nil  iilihlhlii  ili 


liiiihiiliiluiiliiiiiiihiiiiklllillllillllillliiliiiiiiuliijiii. 


Dr.    Robert     T.   Sutherland 


M.^./d,^L^ 


/^//, 


GEORGE  EBERS, 


The 
Burgomaster  s  Wife 


A  ROMANCE 


By  GEORGE  EBERS 


Author  of 
'An  Egyptian  Princess,"    "Uarda,"  "The  Bride  of  the  Nile," 

"Homo  Sum,"  etc.      • 


Translated  by 
Annie  W.  Aver  and  He;i,Kn  T.  Slats 


A.  L.   BURT  COMPANY,        ^       ^       j. 
^     ^     j>.     PUBLISHERS,  NEW  YORK 


PRESERVATION 
COPY  ADDED 


PREFACE. 


BAEONESS  SOPHIE  VON  BRANDENSTEIN, 

NEE   EBEKS. 

If 

"Why  I  should  dedicate  to  you,  the  only  sister  of 
my  dead  father,  a  book  and  this  book,  of  all  others, 
needs  no  words  of  explanation  from  me  to  you. 
From  my  earliest  recollection  you  have  been  a  dear 
and  true  friend  to  me,  and  you  surely  have  not  for- 
gotten how,  as  your  guest  seventeen  years  ago,  I 
was  busily  employed  in  getting  together  the  material 
that  forms  the  basis  of  "  The  Burgomaster's  Wife." 
You  took  a  friendly  interest  in  many  an  item  that 
seemed  to  me  worthy  of  notice,  curious,  or  amusing, 
and  when  the  demands  of  a  serious  profession  hin- 
dered me  from  pursuing  in  the  old  way  the  pleasant 
study  of  the  history  of  Holland,  the  home  of  my 
mother,  you  never  wearied  in  urging  me  to  return 
to  the  unused  material  that  had  formerly  aroused 
your  interest. 

At   last   I   have    been    permitted    to    give   this 
material,  so  long  laid  aside,  its  rightful  due.  A  noble 


ivi292449 


iv  PREFACE. 

period  in  the  glorious  history  of  Holland  is  now  the 

prop  about  which  cling  the  tendrils  of  ray  story. 

You  have  seen  them  grow  and  for  this  reason  you 

will  regard  them  with  pleasure  and  indulgence. 

In  love  and  friendship, 

Yours  as  always, 

Geokg  Ebeks. 
Leipzig,  October  30, 1S81, 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 


CHAPTEK  I. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1574,  sprino^  had  made 
an  early  aiid  joyous  entry  into  the  Netherlands. 

The  sky  was  felue,  ins.ects  darted  hither  and  thither 
in  the  sunshine,  white  butterflies  balanced  them- 
selves on  the  newly  opened  flowers,  and  beside  one 
of  the  many  canals  which  intersected  the  wide  plain 
stood  a  stork  which  snapped  at  a  solemn  froc^ ;  the 
poor  fellow  struggled  in  the  red  beak  of  his  enemy. 
A  gulp — the  agile  leaper  disappeared  and  his  mur- 
derer spread  his  wings  and  soared  away.  Over 
broad  gardens  and  more  modest  ones  filled  with 
blossoming  fruit  trees,  flower-beds  set  out  with 
dainty  exactness,  and  gayly  painted  arbors,  over  the 
somber  crown  of  encircling  fortresses  and  towers, 
over  narrow  houses  with  tall  painted  gables,  over 
tidy  streets  along  whose  borders  elms,  poplars,  lin- 
dens, and  willows  were  taking  on  the  fresh,  green 
liverv  of  spring — on  sped  the  bird.  At  last  he 
alighted  on  a  tiled  roof.  Here  on  the  ridgepole 
stood  his  nest,  well  secured.  When  he  had  generously 
handed  over  his  captive  to  his  brooding  mate,  he 
balanced  himself  on  his  right  leg  and  gazed  thought- 
fully down  upon  the  town  of  dazzHng  red  brick, 
which    rose    beneath   him   on    the  green   carpeted 


2  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

meadows.     lie  had  known  for  many  years  his  beauti- 
ful Ley  den,  tlic  pride  of  Holland. 

lie  was  funiiliar  witli  every  arm  and  armlet  of  the 
Rhine  that  separated  the  stately  city  into  countless 
ishmds,  and  over  which  arched  as  many  stone  bridges 
as  there  are  days  in  live  months  of  the  year;  but 
truly,  many  things  had  changed  since  his  last  Hight 
to  the  south. 

Where  were  the  burghers'  gayly  painted  summer 
houses  and  orchards,  where  were  the  wooden  frames 
upon  which  the  weavers  were  wont  to  stretch  their 
somber  and  many-colored  cloths  ? 

AV^hatever  work  of  human  hands,  whatever  vege- 
tation had  once  risen  breast  high  outside  the  city 
walls  and  towers,  breaking  the  uniformity  of  the 
plain,  all  had  vanished  from  the  earth,  and,  beyond, 
on  the  bird's  best  hunting  grounds  could  be  seen 
brown  and  blackened  circles  in  the  green  of  the 
meadows. 

On  the  last  of  October  of  the  previous  year, 
shortly  after  the  storks'  departure,  a  Spanish  army 
had  set  up  its  camp  on  this  spot,  and  on  the  first 
day  of  spring,  a  few  hours  before  the  home-coming 
of  the  feathered  wanderers,  the  besiegers  had  gone 
away,  having  accomplished  nothing. 

Like  a  blight  in  the  midst  of  the  luxurious  growth 
could  be  seen  their  place  of  encampment,  the  black- 
ened embers  of  their  lires. 

The  sorely  pressed  burghers  of  the  rescued  citj" 
gave  a  sigh  of  thankfulness.  The  industrious,  easy- 
going folk  had  soon  forgotten  the  sufferings  they 
had  endured,  for  early  sj)ring  is  so  fair,  and  never 
does  existence  seem  so  precious  as  when  the  delights 
of  spring  surround  us. 

A  new  and  happier  time  seemed  to  have  begun, 
not  only  for  nature  but  for  man  as  well.  The 
soldiers  who  had  been  quartered  in  the  beleaguered 


TEE  BURGOMASTER' 8  WIFE.  3 

town,  and  had  raised  many  disturbances,  had  taken 
their  departure  two  days  before  with  song  and 
music.  The  carpenter's  ax  glittered  in  the  spring 
sunshine  before  the  red  walls,  gates,  and  towers,  and 
cut  sharply  into  the  beams  out  of  which  new  scaffold- 
ings and  frames  were  to  be  put  together ;  cattle 
grazed  peacefully  and  unafraid  outside  the  town  ; 
in  the  devastated  gardens  digging,  sowing  and 
planting  was  busily  going  on.  In  streets  and  houses 
thousands  of  liands  that  had  lately  borne  pikes  and 
arquebuses  upon  the  walls  and  towers  were  turned 
to  useful  labors,  and  the  old  people  sat  quietly  at 
the  doors  and  warmed  their  backs  in  the  sunshme 
of  the  warm  spring  day. 

On  this  eighteenth  of  April,  few  discontented 
faces  were  to  be  seen  in  the  streets  of  Leyden.  Of 
impatient  faces,  however,  there  was  no  lack,  and 
whoever  wished  to  find  them  had  only  to  go  to  the 
high  school  where  noon  recess  was  ap])roacliing  and 
where  many  boys  were  looking  with  much  more 
eagerness  out  of  the  open  windows  of  the  school- 
room than  at  the  teacher's  face. 

Only  in  that  part  of  the  spacious  hall  where  the 
larger  boys  were  gathered  was  no  uneasiness  notice- 
able. The  spring  sunshine  shone  on  tJieir  books  also, 
spring  was  also  calling  to  them,  but  the  words  to 
which  they  were  listening  seemed  to  have  a  more 
powerful  influence  upon  their  young  minds  than 
spring's  alluring  voice. 

Forty  shining  eyes  were  fastened  upon  the 
bearded  face  of  the  man  who  was  speaking  to  them 
in  deep  tones. 

Even  unruly  Jan  Mulder  had  dropped  the  knife 
with  which  he  had  beo-un  to  carve  on  his  desk  a 
striking  likeness  of  a  ham,  and  was  listenmg  mtently. 

The  noon  bell  sounded  from  the  neighboring 
church  of  St.  Peter's,  and   shortly  after,  from  the 


4  TUB  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

tower  of  the  Kathbaus ;  the  small  boys  left  the  room 
noisily,  but — strange  to  say — tlie  patience  of  the 
larger  ones  still  held  out ;  they  could  not  be  listen- 
ing to  things  that  were  a  part  of  the  lesson. 

Tiie  man  who  stood  before  them  was  not  the 
teaclier  but  the  clerk  of  the  council,  Van  Hout,  who 
was  to-day  taking  the  place  of  his  sick  friend, 
Vestroot,  master  of  arts  and  preacher.  During  the 
riniiing:  of  the  bells  he  had  closed  the  book  and  now 
said  : 

'' 8uf<pen(lo  lectionem.  Heh,  Jan  Mulder,  how 
would  you  translate  suspenclere  P^ 

"  Ila'ng,"  answered  the  lad. 

''  Hang !"  laughed  Van  Hout.  "  Hang  you,  per- 
haps, by  the  heels,  but  where  can  one  hang  a  lesson  ? 
Adrian  van  der  Werff " 

The  lad  addressed  rose  quickly,  and  said  : 

"  Suspenders  lectionem  means  to  end  the  lesson," 

''  Gootl ;  and  if  we  were  going  to  hang  Jan  Mul- 
der, what  would  we  call  it  ?" 

'■'■  Patlhalare^ad  patibulumP''  shouted  the 
scholars  together. 

Van  Hout's  face,  which  had  just  been  smiling, 
grew  grave.     He  sighed  and  said  : 

" Pat'ibido  is  a  bad  Latin  word,  and  your  fathers, 
who  used  to  sit  here,  did  not  understand  its  meaning 
as  well  as  you  do.  Now  every  child  in  the  I^ether- 
lands  knows  it,  for  Alva  has  impressed  it  upon  us. 
More  than  eighteen  thousand  brave  burghers  have 
gone  to  the  gallows  through  his  ad patlhulum  P"* 

So  saying  he  drew  his  short  black  doublet  through 
his  girdle,  stopped  nearer  to  the  foremost  desks, 
bent  his  sturdy  body  forward,  and  said  with  ever 
increasing  emotion  : 

"This  is  enough  for  to-day,  bo3'S.  It  will  not 
matter  much  if  you  forget  tiie  names  that  you  have 
learned  here  to-day.     But  keep  one  thing    in  mind  : 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  5 

The  fatherland  above  everything !  Leonidas  and 
his  three  hundred  Spartans  have  not  died  in  vain  as 
long  as  there  are  men  who  are  ready  to  follow  their 
example.  Your  turn  will  also  come,  I  am  not  here 
to  boast,  but  what  is  true  is  true.  We  Hollanders 
have  offered  up  fifty  times  three  hundred  martyrs 
for  the  freedom  of  our  native  land.  Strong  men  are 
always  found  in  stormy  times  ;  boys,  too,  have  stood 
the  test.  Ulrich,  there  at  your  head,  may  bear  his 
nickname  of  Lowing  with  honor !  '  Ho  Persians — ho 
Greeks  !'  it  used  to  be — but  we  shout :  '  Ho  Nether- 
lands and  ho  Spain  !'  And  truly  the  proud  Darius 
never  raged  through  Hellas  as  King  Philip  has 
through  Holland.  Yes,  boys,  many  flowers  grow  in 
the  human  breast.  Among  them  is  hatred,  the 
poisonous  hemlock.  Spain  has  sown  it  in  our  breasts, 
I  can  feel  it  growing  within  me  and  you  feel  it  too, 
and  ought  to  feel  it.  But  do  not  misunderstand  me  ! 
'  Ho  Spain — ho  Netherlands  !'  is  the  cry  and  not : 
'  Ho  Papists  and  ho  Reformers !'  Every  creed  is 
good  in  God's  sight,  as  long  as  men  earnestly  strive 
to  walk  in  Christ's  footsteps.  Before  God's  throne, 
the  question  will  not  be :  Papist,  Calvinist,  or 
Lutlieran  \  but :  What  were  your  thoughts  and  what 
were  yonr  deeds  ?  Respect  every  man's  belief  ;  but 
whosoever  makes  common  cause  with  the  tyrant 
against  tlie  freedom  of  the  Fatherland,  him  you 
may  despise.  Now  pray  silently.  There  And 
now  go  home  !" 

The  schohirs  rose  ;  Yan  Hout  wiped  the  perspira- 
tion from  his  high  forehead,  and  while  the  boys 
gathered  together  tlioir  bi:)oks,  pens  and  pencils,  he 
said  hesitatingly  and  as  tliough  he  must  make  ex- 
cuses to  himself  for  what  he  had  just  said  : 

"  What  I  have  been  sajang  to  you  may  not  belong 
to  the  schoolroom  ;  bat,  boys,  the  straggle  is  very 
far  from  being  at  an  end,  and  although  you  may 


6  THE  B  UROOMA  STER  '8  WIFE. 

have  to  sit  on  the  school-bench  awhile  longer,  you 
too  will  be  soldiers  in  the  future.  Lowing,  you 
mav  remain  behind.  I  have  something  to  say  to 
you." 

The  master  turned  slowly  away  from  the  bo3"s, 
and  the  latter  rushed  out  into  the  open.  In  a  cor- 
ner of  the  yard  of  St.  Peter's,  whicii  lay  behind  the 
church  and  was  disturbed  by  few  of  the  passers-by, 
they  halted  and  their  confused  shouts  resolved 
themselves  into  a  sort  of  consultation  with  which 
the  uro^ent  strains  of  the  organ  from  within  the 
church  mingled  strangely. 

They  were  discussing  the  game  they  were  to  play 
that  afternoon. 

That  it  should  be  a  battle  was  understood,  after 
Yan  Hout's  speech.  It  had  not  been  proposed  by 
any  one,  but  was  the  supposition  upon  which  the  dis- 
cussion that  followed  was  based. 

It  was  soon  decided  that  patriots  and  Spaniards, 
not  Greeks  and  Persians,  were  to  enter  the  lists 
against  each  other ;  but  when  the  burgomaster's 
fourteen-year-old  son,  Adrian  van  der  Werff,  pro- 
posed the  immediate  formation  of  the  parties,  and, 
in  his  imperious  way,  attem])ted  to  make  Spaniards 
of  Paul  van  Swieten  and  Klaus  Dirkson,  lie  met 
with  violent  opposition,  and  the  serious  state  of 
affairs  was  revealed  that  no  one  could  be  induced 
to  impersonate  a  foreign  soldier.  Each  bo\^  wished 
to  make  a  Castilian  of  some  one  else  and  fight  him- 
self under  the  banner  of  the  Netherlands.  But 
friend  and  foe  are  necessary  for  a  war,  and  Holland's 
heroic  spirit  required  Spaniards  in  order  to  prove 
itself.  The  youthful  tempers  began  to  kindle  and 
the  cheeks  of  the  combatants  to  glow,  here  and 
there  a  fist  was  raised,  and  everything  indicated 
that  the  battle  with  the  country's  foe  was  to  be 
preceded  by  a  hideous  civil  war. 


THE  B  miGOMASTEB  'S  WIFE.  7 

Indeed,  these  spirited  boys  were  ill-fitted  to  play 
the  part  of  Kino;  Philip's  somber,  stiff-necked 
soldiers.  Among  the  yellow-haired  lads  few  with 
brown  locks  were  to  be  seen ;  and  but  one  with 
black  hair  and  dark  eyes.  This  was  Adam  Baers- 
dorp,  whose  father,  like  Yan  der  Werff's,  was  among 
the  leaders  of  the  burghers.  When  he,  too,  refused 
to  play  the  part  of  a  Spaniard,  one  of  the  boj^s 
cried : 

"  You  won't  ?  And  yet  my  father  says  that  yours 
is  halt  a  Glipper*  and  altogether  a  Papist." 

At  these  words  3"oung  Baersdorp  flung  down  his 
books  and  advanced  with  clinched  fists  upon  his 
opponent.  Adrian  van  der  Werff,  however,  stepped 
hastily  between  the  combatants, 

"  For  shame,  Cornelius  !"  he  cried.  "  If  any  one 
speaks  like  that  again,  I'll  shut  his  mouth.  Catho- 
lics are  Christians  as  well  as  we  are.  You  heard 
the  clerk  of  the  council  say  so,,  and  my  father  says 
so  too.  AVill  you  be  a  Spaniard,  Adam — yes  or 
no?" 

"  No !"  cried  the  latter  resolutely.  "  And  if 
any  one " 

"  You  can  fight  afterward,"  interrupted  Adrian 
van  der  Werff,  and  picking  up  the  books  tliat 
Baersdorp  had  flung  down  and  good-naturedly  hand- 
ing them  to  him,  he  went  on :  "I  will  be  a  Spaniard 
to-day.     AVho  else  V 

"  I,  I,  I  too,"  cried  several  of  the  schoolboys,  and 
the  forming  of  the  two  parties  would  have  proceeded 
in  the  best  of  order,  had  not  the  attention  of  the 
boys  been  diverted  from  their  purpose  by  something- 
new. 

A  3'oung  gentleman  followed  by  a  black  servant 
was  coming   up  the  street,  and    in  their  direction. 

*  A  name  given  to  Spanish  sympathizers  iu  Holland. 


8  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

He  was  also  a  Netherlander,  but  he  had  little  in 
common  with  the  schoolboys  but  age  ;  a  pink  and 
and  white  complexion,  fair  hair,  and  clear,  blue 
eyes  that  looked  ai'rogantly  out  uj)on  the  world. 

His  every  step  showed  that  he  considered  himself 
something  out  of  the  common,  and  the  gaudily 
dressed  young  Moor,  who  carried  several  newly  made 
purchases,  bore  himself  in  comical  imitation  of  his  ^ 
master.  The  negro's  head  was  thrown  even  further  * 
back  than  his  master's,  who  was  prevented  by  a 
stiff  Spanish  ruff  from  carrying  his*  handsome  head 
as  freely  as  other  mortals. 

"  That  coxcomb  of  a  Wibisma,"  said  one  of  the 
schoolboys,  pointing  with  his  finger  at  the  approach- 
ing youth. 

Tiae  eyes  of  all  the  boys  turned  toward  the  latter, 
and  scornfully  surveyed  his  small  velvet  hat, 
adorned  with  a  feather,  his  quilted  doublet  of  red 
satin  padded  over  the  chest  and  arms,  the  wide  puffs 
of  his  short  brown  breeches,  and  the  brilliant  scarlet 
of  the  silken  hose  that  fitted  snugly  to  his  shapely 
legs. 

"The  coxcomb,"  repeated  Paul  van  Swieten. 
"  He's  a  cardinalist,*  that's  why  he  goes  about  in 
red." 

"And  like  a  Spaniard,  as  though  he  had  just 
came  from  Madrid,"  cried  a  second  lad,  and  a  third 
added  : 

"The  Wibismas  took  good  care  to  staty  away  as 
long  as  bread  \vas  scarce  with  us." 

"  All  the  AVibismas  are  Glippers." 

"And  now  he's  strutting  ai'ound  on  a  week-day 
in  silk  and  satin,"  said  Adrian.  "  Just  look  at  the 
blackamoor  the  red-lea-o^ed  stork  has  brought  with 
him  to  Leyden," 


"OO" 


*  An  adherent  of  Cardinal  Granville. 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  9 

The  schoolboys  raised  a  loud  laugh,  and  when  the 
young  noble  came  up  to  them,  Paul  van  Swieten 
drawled  through  his  nose  : 

"  How  do  you  like  running  away  ?  How  are 
things  going  in  Spain,  Herr  Glipper  ?" 

The  boy  flung  back  his  head  still  further ;  the 
negro  behind  him  did  the  same,  and  both  went 
quietly  on,  even  when  Adrian  shouted  in  his  ear : 

"  Glijyperchen,  tell  me  how  many  pieces  of  silver 
did  Judas  sell  the  Master  for?" 

Young  Matenesse  van  Wibisma  made  an  impa- 
tient motion,  but  controlled  himself  until  Jan  Mulder 
stepped  before  him,  and  holding  his  small  cloth  cap 
decorated  with  a  cock's  feather  under  the  other's 
chin,  said  humbly,  as  if  begging  : 

"  Give  me  a  groschen  to  buy  absolution  for  our 
cat,  Herr  Grandee  ;  he  stole  a  leg  of  veal  from  the 
butcher  yesterday." 

"  Out  of  my  way !"  said  the  lad  haughtily  and 
sternly,  and  strove  to  push  Mulder  aside  with  the 
back  of  his  hand. 

"  Hands  off,  Glipper !"  cried  the  schoolboy 
threateningly,  raising  his  fist. 

"  Then  let  me  alone,"  answered  Wibisma.  "  I 
seek  no  quarrel,  and  last  of  all  with  you." 

"  And  why  not  with  us  V  asked  Adrian  van  der 
"Werff ,  angered  by  the  cool  and  arrogant  tone  of  the 
last  words. 

The  lad  shrugged  his  shoulders  disdainfully. 
Adrian  went  on : 

"Because  you  like  your  Spanish  dress  better  than 
our  doublets  of  Leyden  cloth." 

Adrian  said  no  more,  for  Jan  Mulder  had  crept 
behind  the  newcomer  and  struck  at  his  hat  with  a 
book  ;  and  while  Nicolas  van  Wibisma  was  striving 
to  free  his  eyes  from  the  head  covering,  shouted  : 

"  There,  Herr  Grandee,  the  hat  is  on  firmly  now. 
You  can  keep  it  on,  even  before  the  king." 


10  THE  B  URQ0MA8TER  'S  WIFE. 

The  negro  could  not  spring  to  his  master's  aid,  for 
his  arms  were  tilled  with  bundles,  nor  did  the  young 
nobleman  call  to  him,  for  he  knew  how  cowardly 
his  black  servant  was  and  he  felt  strong  enough  to 
defend  himself. 

An  ostrich  plume  was  fastened  to  his  hat  by  a 
costly  clasp,  a  gift  that  he  had  lately  received  on 
his  seventeenth  birthday,  but  he  paid  no  heed  to  it, 
flung  his  hat  aside  placed  himself  in  fighting  position, 
and  with  flushed  cheeks  demanded  in  a  loud  and 
imperious  voice  : 

"  Who  did  that  ?"  _ 

Jan  Mulder  had  slipped  back  among  his  comrades, 
and  instead  of  stepping  forward  and  proclaiming 
himself,  he  cried,  laughing  : 

"  Look  for  the  hat-smasher,  Glipper  !  Le  t  us  play 
blind-man's  buff." 

The  lad,  beside  himself  with  rage,  repeated  his 
question  more  imperatively. 

When  instead  of  answering,  the  schoolbo3's 
entered  into  Jan  Mulder's  jest  and  shouted  noisily  : 
*'  Flay  blind-man's  buff  !  Look  for  the  hat-smasher ! 
You  begin,  Glipperclien  V  Nicolas,  losing  all  control 
of  himself,  criecl  furiously  to  the  laughing  group  : 

"  You  cowardly  riff-raff  !" 

The  words  had  scarcely  died  aAvay  when  Paul 
van  Swieten  raised  his  leather-bound  grammar  and 
flung  it  full  at  Wibisma's  breast.  Amid  loud  yells 
from  the  boys  the  grammar  Avas  followed  b}'^  other 
books,  which  struck  the  young  noble  on  the  legs 
and  shoulders.  Bewildered,  and  shielding  his  face 
with  his  hands,  he  fell  back  toward  the  Avail  of  the 
church.  There  he  came  to  a  standstill  and  prepared 
to  make  a  rush  upon  his  enemies. 

The  stiff  Spanish  I'uff  no  longer  confined  his  hand- 
some, curly  head,  lie  looked  his  antagonists  freely 
and  boldly  in  the  face,  stretched  his  young  limbs 


TEE  B  UROOMASTER  'S  WIFE.  H 

steeled  by  many  a  knightly  exercise,  and  with  an 
unmistakable  Ketherland  curse,  rushed  upon  the 
boy  who  stood  nearest  to  him — Adrian  van  der 
Werff. 

After  a  short  struggle  the  burgomaster's  son,  his 
inferior  in  age  and  strength,  lay  stretched  upon  the 
ground  ;  but  the  other  scholars,  who  h  a  not  ceased 
to  cry,  "  Glipper,  Glipper,"  now  laid  hands  on  the 
young  noble,  who  was  kneehng  upon  his  vanquished 
foe. 

Nicolas  defended  himself  bravelv,  but  his  enemies 
were  too  numerous  for  him. 

Maddened  by  rage  and  shame,  he  drew  his  dagger 
from  his  belt. 

The  boys  raised  a  terrible  outcry  and  two  of 
them  flung  themselves  upon  Nicolas  to  wrest  the 
weapon  from  him.  They  soon  succeeded ;  the 
dagger  fell  upon  the  pavement,  but  Paul  van 
Swieten  sprang  back  with  aery,  for  the  sharp  blade 
had  pierced  his  arm  and  the  blood  was  flowing 
upon  the  ground. 

For  several  moments  the  shouts  of  the  boys  and 
the  screams  of  the  negro  drowned  the  music  that 
came  through  the  windows  of  the  church.  Suddenly 
the  music  ceased  ;  instead  of  the  melodious  strains, 
only  the  plaintive,  dying  note  of  a  single  pipe  could 
be  heard,  and  a  young  man  ran  of  the  door  of  the 
sacristy.  He  rapidly  took  in  the  cause  of  the  uproar 
that  had  interrupted  him  in  his  practicing.  His 
handsome  face,  framed  by  a  short,  full  beard,  had 
looked  anxious  at  first,  but  soon  broke  into  a  smile, 
although  the  words  of  reproof  and  the  thrusts  with 
which  he  pushed  aside  the  angry  boys  were  earnest 
enough  and  did  not  fail  in  their  eifect. 

The  schoolboys  knew  the  musician,  Wilhelm 
Corneliussohn,  and  made  no  resistance,  for  they 
liked  him,  and  the  dozen  years'  advantage  he  had 


12  THE  B  UnOOMASTER  'S  WIFE. 

over  them  rendered  his  authority  indisputable.  Not 
a  hand  was  now  raised  against  the  3'oung  noble,  but 
the  boys  surrounded  the  organist,  and,  all  shouting 
toiretirer,  beiran  to  accuse  Nicolas  and  defend  them- 
selves. 

Paul  van  Swie ten's  wound  was  slight.  He  stood 
outside  the  circle  of  his  companions  and  supported 
his  injured  left  arm  with  his  right  hand.  Now  and 
then  he  blew  on  the  burning  wound,  which  was  done 
up  in  a  handkerchief,  but  his  interest  in  the  result 
of  this  entertaining  quarrel  was  stronger  than  the 
desire  to  have  his  injuries  attended  to. 

Wlien  the  peacemaker's  task  was  nearly  accom- 
plished the  injured  lad  suddenly  pointed  in  the 
direction  of  the  schoolhouse  and  called  warningly 
to  his  companions : 

"  Here  comes  Ilerr  von  Nordwyk !  Let  the 
Glipper  go  or  something  Avill  happen  !" 

Paul  van  Swieten  took  his  wounded  arm  in  his 
right  hand  again  and  ran  quickly  around  the  church. 
Several  other  boys  followed,  but  the  newcomer,  of 
whom  they  stood  in  awe,  a  young  man  of  thirty,  had 
legs  of  considerable  length  and  knew  how  to  make 
good  use  of  them. 

"  Stop,  boys !",  he  cried  in  a  far-reaching  and 
authoritative  voice.  "  Stop !  What's  going  on 
here  ?" 

Every  one  in  Ley  den  held  the  learned  and  brave 
young  nobleman  in  great  respect,  and  so  all  the  boys 
who  had  not  at  once  heeded  their  injured  comrade's 
shout  of  warning,  halted  until  Herr  von  Nordwyk 
came  up  to  them. 

A  merry  light  sparkled  in  the  man's  keen  eyes 
and  a  si}'  smile  played  about  his  bearded  lips  as  he 
called  to  the  musician  : 

"  What  has  been  going  on  here,  Meister  Wilhelra  ? 
Coukin't  the  shouts  of  Minerva's  followers  be  made  to 


THE  B  URGOMA  8TER  'S  WIFE.  1 3 

harmonize  with  your  organ  playing? — but,  by  all  the 
colors  of  the  rainbow,  if  that  isn't  Nico  Matenesse, 
young  Wibisraa !  And  how  the  young  gentleman 
looks!  Brawling  in  the  very  shadow  of  the  church 
— and  you  here,  Adrian,  and  you  too,  Meister 
Wilhelm?" 

"  I  separated  them,"  answered  the  musician 
calmly,  readjusting  his  disordered  cuifs. 

"Quietly,  but  impressively — as  you  play  the 
organ,"  laughed  the  commandant.  "  Who  began 
the  quarrel?     You,  young  man  ?  or  the  others?" 

AVhat  with  excitement,  shame  and  anger,  Nicolas 
could  find  no  coherent  words.  Adrian,  however, 
stepped  forward  and  said:  "We  have  been  wres- 
tling together.  Don't  be  too  hard  on  us,  Herr 
Janus." 

Nicolas  cast  a  friendly  glance  at  his  antagonist. 

Herr  von  Nordwyk,  Jan  van  der  Does,  or,  as  he 
was  fond  of  calling  himself,  Janus  Dousa,  was,  how- 
ever, by  no  means  satisfied  with  this  information. 
"  Patience,  patience !"  he  cried,  "  you  look  suspicious 
enough,  Meister  Adrian  ;  come  here  and  tell  me, 
'  atrekeos^  according  to  the  truth,  what  has  been 
going  on  here  ?" 

The  lad  obeyed,  and  told  frankly  what  had  hap- 
pened, without  keeping  back  or  excusing  anything. 

"H'm,"  said  Dousa,  when  the  lad  had  finished 
his  story,  "  A  bad  business.  No  one  is  free  from 
blame.  Your  cause  would  be  the  better  one  if  it 
were  not  for  the  knife,  my  fine  young  gentleman, 
but  you,  Adrian,  and  you,  you  round-cheeked  ras- 
cals— here  comes  the  rector  ;  if  he  catches  vou,  you 
will  certainly  see  nothing  outside  of  four  walls  to- 
day.    I  should  be  sorry  for  that." 

The  round-cheeked  rascals,  and  Adrian  with  them, 
understood  the  hint,  and  like  a  flock  of  doves  pur- 
sued by  a  hawk,  fled  round  the  church  without 
stopping  to  take  leave. 


14  TEE  BURGOMASTEirS  WIFE. 

As  soon  as  they  had  vanished,  the  commandant 
approached  young  Nicolas  and  said  : 

"  It's  a  bad  business !  But  what  is  fair  for  them 
is  fair  for  you.  Go  home  at  once.  Are  you  visiting 
your  cousin  ?'' 

"  Yes,  my  lord,"  answered  the  lad. 

"  Is  your  father  also  in  the  town  2" 

The  lad  was  silent. 

"  He  does  not  wish  to  be  seen  ?" 

Nicolas  nodded  in  affirmation,  and  Dousa  went 
on: 

"  Leyden  is  open  to  every  Hollander,  and  also 
to  you ;  but  if  you  go  about  lilvc  one  of  King  Phil- 
ip's pages,  and  sliow  conteui])t  for  your  equals,  you, 
yourself,  must  bear  the  consequences.  There  lies 
your  dagger,  my  young  friend,  and  there  is  your 
hat:  pick  them  up  and  remember  that  such  a 
weapon  is  no  plaything.  Man}'  a  man's  whole  life 
has  been  ruined  by  a  single  moment's  tiioughtless  use 
of  one.  The  superior  number  of  your  assailants  may 
excuse  3'^ou  ;  but  how  are  you  to  get  to3'our  cousin's 
house  in  this  tattered  doublet  without  disgracing 
yourself  ?" 

"My  cloak  is  in  the  church,"  said  the  musician. 
"I  will  give  it  to  the  young  gentleman." 

"  Well  done,  Meister  Wilhelm  !"  answered  Dousa. 
"  AVait  here,  my  young  friend,  and  then  go  home ; 
I  would  the  time  might  come  again  when  my  salu- 
tation would  be  pleasing  to  3'our  father.  I)o  you 
know  why  it  is  no  longer  agreeable  to  him?" 

"  No,  my  lord." 

"  Then  it  will  tell  you.  Because  he  has  a  liking 
for  Spanish,  and  I  still  cling  to  Dutch." 

"  We  are  Hollanders  as  well  as  you,"  ansAvered 
Nicolas,  with  cheeks  that  were  beginning  to  flame. 

"Scarcely,"  returned  Dousa  (luielly,  and  stroking 
his  lean  chin,  was  about  to  add  a  kindlier  word  to 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  15 

the  harsh  one,  when  the  youngster  cried  impet- 
uously : 

"  Herr  von  Nordwyk,  you  must  take  back  that 
'  scarcely,'  " 

Dousa  looked  in  surprise  at  the  lad's  fearless 
face,  and  his  lips  began  to  twitch  again.  Then  he 
said  kindly : 

"  Herr  Nicolas,  you  please  me,  and  I  shall  be  very 
glad  if  you  wish  to  become  a  true  Hollander.  Here 
comes  Meister  Wilhelm  with  his  cloak.  Give  me 
your  hand.     No,  not  that  one;  the  other." 

Nicolas  hesitated.  Janus,  however,  seized  the 
boy's  right  hand  in  both  of  his,  bent  his  tall  figure 
till  he  was  close  to  the  other's  ear  and  said,  so  softly 
that  the  musician  could  not  hear  him  : 

"  Before  we  separate  take  with  3'ou  these  words 
from  one  who  means  them  well.  Chains,  even  golden 
ones,  drag  one  down,  but  freedom  gives  wings.  You 
shine  in  the  glittering  splendor,  but  we  strike  with 
our  swords  at  the  Spanish  fetters,  and  I  glory  in 
our  act.  Eemember  these  words  and,  if  you  care  to, 
repeat  them  to  your  father." 

Janus  Dousa  turned  his  back  upon  the  lad,  nodded 
to  the  musician  and  went  on  his  way. 


16  THE  B  URGOMASTEIl  'S  WIFR 


CHAPTER  II. 

YorNG  Adrian  hastened  down  the  Werffsteg, 
from  which  his  family  had  taken  its  name.  He 
took  no  notice  either  of  the  double  row  of  lindens, 
in  whose  tops  the  first  green  leaves  were  beginning 
to  peep  from  the  pointed  buds,  or  of  the  birds  that 
fiew  hither  and  thither,  twittering  and  building 
their  nests  in  the  hospitable  branches  of  the  noble 
trees,  for  his  one  idea  was  to  reach  home  as  soon  as 
possible. 

On  the  other  side  of  the  bridge  spanning  the 
Achtergracht  he  paused  irresolutely  before  a  large 
building. 

On  the  central  door  hung  the  knocker,  but  he  did 
not  venture  at  once  to  lift  it  and  let  it  fall  upon  the 
glittering  plate  beneath,  for  he  did  not  look  forward 
to  a  pleasant  reception  from  his  family. 

His  doublet  had  suffered  in  the  struggle  with  his 
stronger  adversary.  The  torn  ruff  had  been  ejected 
from  its  rightful  place  and  was  obliged  to  seek  retire- 
ment in  a  pocket,  and  the  new  violet  stocking  on  his 
right  leg,  unlucky  stocking,  had  been  worn  through 
on  the  pavement^  and  the  gaping  rent  showed  more 
of  Adrian's  white  knee  than  was  agreeable  to  him. 

The  peacock  feather  in  his  velvet  cap  could  be 
easily  replaced ;  but  the  doublet  was  not  ripped,  but 
torn,  and  the  stocking  was  almost  beyond  repair. 

The  bo}'  was  really  sorry,  for  his  father  had 
enjoined  him  to  take  good  care  of  his  clothes,  that 
the  pennies  might  be  saved.  Money  was  scarce  in 
this  big  house  which  faced  the  Werffsteg  so  proudly 


THE  B  URG0MA8TER  'S  WIFE.  l"? 

with  its  three  doors,  as  many  gables  adorned  with 
finely  wrought  volutes,  and  six  windows  in  the 
lower  and  upper  stories. 

The  burgomastership  brought  in  little  and  his 
grandfather's  trade  of  dressing  chamois-leather,  as 
well  as  the  business  in  hides,  was  on  the  decline, 
for  his  father  had  other  things  on  his  mind — things 
that  not  only  absorbed  all  his  thoughts,  time  and 
strength,  but  every  spare  heller  as  well. 

Adrian  had  nothing  pleasant  to  expoet  at  home 
— certainly  not  from  his  father,  and  still  less  from 
Frau  Barbara,  his  aunt. 

But  the  lad  feared  the  anger  of  both  less  than  a 
single  glance  of  displeasure  from  the  eyes  of  the 
young  woman  whom  he  had  called  "  mother "  for 
scarce  twelve  months  and  who  was  but  six  years 
his  senior. 

She  never  said  an  unkind  word  to  him,  but  his 
roughness  and  defiance  melted  away  before  her 
beauty  and  her  quiet  and  distinguished  bearing. 
Whether  he  loved  her  or  not,  he  scarcel}''  knew,  but 
she  seemed  to  him  like  the  good  fairy  in  the  fairy 
tales,  and  he  often  thought  that  she  was  much  too 
tender  and  dainty  and  sweet  for  her  simple,  unpre- 
tentious surroundings.  It  made  him  happy  to  see 
her  smile,  and  when  she  looked  sad — and  it  was  not 
seldom — it  made  his  heart  ache.  Truly,  she  could 
not  receive  him  pleasantly  when  she  saw  the  torn 
doublet  and  the  ruff  that  was  hidden  in  his  pocket 
and  the  unlucky  stockings. 

And  then ! 

The  bells  were  ringing  again. 

The  dinner  hour  was  long  past  and  his  father 
waited  for  no  one.  Whoever  was  late  had  to  go 
hungry  unless  Aunt  Barbara  took  pity  on  him  in 
the  kitchen. 

But  what  was  the  use  of  reflection  and  hesitation  ? 


18  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

Adrian  pulled  himself  together,  clinched  his  teeth, 
closed  his  left  hand  more  tightly  about  the  torn  ruli 
in  his  pocket,  and  let  the  knocker  fall  heavily  on  the 
steel  plate  beneath. 

Trautchen,  the  elderly  maid-servant,  opened  the 
door,  and  in  the  spacious,  dimly  lighted  hall  storeil 
with  closely  packed  bales  of  leather,  she  noticed 
nothing  of  the  disorder  of  his  outer  man. 

He  hurried  up  the  stairs. 

The  dining-room  door  stood  open  and — wonder 
of  wonders  ! — the  table  was  still  undisturbed.  His 
father  must  have  remained  longer  than  usual  at  the 
Eathhaus. 

Adrian  bounded  up  to  his  little  gable-room, 
dressed  himself  neatly,  and  before  the  master  of  the 
house  had  pronounced  the  blessing,  had  joined  the 
family. 

The  doublet  and  hose  could  be  confided  to  Aunt 
Barbara's  or  Trautchen's  restoring  fingers  at  some 
opportune  time. 

Adrian  fell  valiantly  upon  the  smoking  dishes ; 
but  he  soon  began  to  grow  uneasy,  for  his  father 
did  not  utter  a  word  and  stared  before  him,  as  grave 
and  troubled  as  when  distress  filled  the  beleaguered 
city. 

The  boy's  young  stepmother  sat  opposite  her 
husband  and  looked  often  into  Peter  van  der 
Werff's  grave  face  to  catch  a  kindly  glance  from 
him. 

Each  time  that  she  did  so  without  success,  she 
brushed  the  fine,  golden  hair  from  her  forehead, 
threw  back  her  beautiful  head,  or  bit  her  lips  and 
gazed  silently  at  her  plate. 

To  Aunt  Barbara's  questions:  "What  was  done 
at  the  council?  Have  vou  raised  the  monev  for 
the  new  bell?  Is  Jakob  van  Sloten  going  to  lease 
you  the  meadow  ^"  he  gave  curt,  half-evasive 
ansvvers. 


TEE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  19 

The  man  who  sat  so  silent  and  with  knitted 
brows  in  the  midst  of  his  family,  and  now  took  a 
hasty  mouthful  and  now  ate  nothing  at  all,  did 
not  look  like  one  who  abandons  him*jelf  to  idle 
whims. 

All  present,  even  the  men  and  maid-servants,  were 
still  doing  justice  to  the  viands,  when  the  master  of 
the  house  rose  suddenly,  and,  pressing  his  clasped 
hands  to  his  head,  cried  with  a  groan  : 

"  I  can  stand  it  no  longer.  You  must  say  grace, 
Maria.  Janche,  go  to  the  Rathhaus  and  see  if  no 
messenger  has  come." 

The  man  wiped  his  mouth  and  obeyed  at  once. 
lie  was  a  tall,  broad-shouldered  Frieslander,  but  he 
reached  only  to  his  master's  forehead. 

Without  speaking  to  any  of  his  household,  Peter 
van  der  Werff  turned  away,  opened  the  door  that 
led  to  his  study,  pulled  it  sharply  to  as  soon  as  he 
had  crossed  the  threshold,  and  advanced  to  his  stout, 
oaken  desk  upon  which  lay  high  piles  of  papers  and 
letters,  held  down  by  rough,  leaden  weights,  and 
began  to  turn  over  the  newly  arrived  documents. 
For  quarter  of  an  hour  he  strove  in  vain  to  fix  upon 
them  the  attention  they  required.  Then  he  grasped 
his  study-chair  and  supported  his  folded  arms  on  its 
high  carved  back.  He  stared  meditatively  at  the 
wooden  wainscoting  of  the  ceiling.  In  a  few  mo- 
ments he  pushed  the  chair  aside  with  his  foot, 
raised  his  hand  to  his  mouth,  divided  his  mustache 
from  his  thick  brown  beard,  and  stepped  to  the 
window.  The  small,  round,  leaden-framed  panes, 
however  brightly  they  were  polished,  permitted 
only  a  small  portion  of  the  street  to  be  seen,  but  the 
burgomaster  had  evidently  found  what  he  sought, 
for  he  hastily  flung  up  the  window  and  shouted  to 
the  serving  man  who  was  coming  rapidly  toward 
the  house ; 


20  TBE  B  URO 0 MASTER  '8  WIPE. 

"  Here,  Janche  ;  has  he  come  V 

The  Frieslander  shook  his  head ;  the  window 
banged  to,  and  a  few  moments  later  the  burgomaster 
seized  bis  hat,  which,  together  with  a  number  of 
horse  pistols  and  a  plain,  substantial  sword,  hung 
under  the  picture  of  a  young  woman  on  the  only 
wall  of  the  room  that  was  not  wholly  bare. 

He  could  no  longer  endure  in  the  house  the  cruel 
unrest  that  possessed  him. 

He  would  order  his  horse  and  ride  out  to  meet 
the  expected  messenger. 

Before  leaving  the  room  he  paused  thoughtfully, 
then  returned  once  more  to  his  desk  to  sign  some 
papers  destined  for  the  Rathhaus,  as  it  might  be 
night  before  he  returned. 

JStill  standing,  he  glanced  over  two  sheets  he  had 
spread  out  before  him  and  reached  for  the  pen. 
J  ust  then  the  door  opened  softly  and  the  fresh  sand 
strewn  over  the  white  boards  grated  under  a  light 
foot.     He  heard  it,  but  paid  no  heed. 

His  wife  stood  close  behind  him.  Twenty-four 
years  younger  than  he,  she  seemed  like  a  timid  girl 
as  she  raised  her  arm  and  yet  did  not  venture  to 
distract  her  husband's  attention  from  his  work. 

She  waited  quietly  until  he  had  signed  the  first 
document,  then  she  sank  her  pretty  head,  and  blush- 
ing slightly,  said  with  downcast  eyes  : 

"  It  is  I,  Peter." 

"  Very  well,  my  child,"  he  answered  briefly,  and 
raised  the  second  paper  nearer  to  his  eyes. 

"  Peter !"  she  exclaimed  more  urgently  than 
before,  but  still  timidly,  "  I  have  something  to  say 
to  you." 

Van  der  Werff  turned  his  head  toward  her  and 
gave  her  a  quick,  affectionate  glance. 

"  Now,  child  ?  You  see  I  have  work  to  do  and 
there  lies  my  hat." 


THE  B  URGOMA STER  'S  WIFE.  2 1 

"  But  Peter !"  she  answered,  and  something  like 
displeasure  shone  in  her  eyes  as  she  went  on  in 
a  slightly  aggrieved  tone  :  "  We  haven't  had  a  word 
together  to-day.  My  heart  is  so  full  and  what  I 
would  like  to  say  to  you  is — must " 

"  When  I  return,  Maria,  not  now,"  he  answered, 
interrupting  her,  and  his  deep  voice  sounded  half 
impatient,  half  pleading  :  "  First  the  town  and  the 
state — then  love." 

Maria  drew  up  her  head  proudly  at  these  words 
and  said  with  trembling  lips  : 

"  That  is  what  you  have  said  ever  since  the  first 
day  of  our  marriage." 

"  And  unhappily — unhappily — I  must  continue  to 
say  it,  until  we  have  reached  the  goal,"  he  said 
firmly. 

The  blood  rose  to  her  delicate  cheeks  and,  breath- 
ing more  rapidly,  she  cried  in  a  quick,  determined 
tone  : 

"  Yes,  I  have  heard  those  words  ever  since  your 
wooing,  and  I  am  my  father's  daughter  and  have 
never  opposed  them,  but  it  no  longer  applies  to  us 
two  ;  it  ought  to  be  :  '  All  for  the  country  and  noth- 
ing for  the  wife.' " 

Van  der  Werff  laid  down  his  pen  and  turned  full 
toward  his  vouno^  wife. 

Her  slight  figure  seemed  to  have  grown  taller, 
and  the  blue  eyes  swimming  in  tears  had  a  proud 
light  in  them.  God  seemed  to  have  created  this 
woman  for  him  and  him  alone.  His  heart  went  out 
to  her.  He  frankly  stretched  out  both  hands  to  her 
and  said  fervently : 

"  You  know  how  matters  stand  !  My  heart  does 
not  change,  and  better  times  are  coming." 

"When  will  they  come?"  asked  Maria  gloomily, 
as  though  she  did  not  believe  in  a  brighter  future. 

"  Soon,"     answered    her    husband     steadfastly. 


22  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"  Soon,  if   only  each   will  give  willingly  what   the 
fatherland  demands." 

As  he  spoke  the  young  wife  freed  her  hands  from 
her  husband's  ;  the  door  had  opened  and  Frau  Bar- 
bara called  from  the  threshold  to  her  brother : 

"  Ilerr  Matenesse  van  AVibisma,  the  Glipper,  is  in 
the  hall  and  wishes  to  speak  with  you." 

"Show  him  up,"  said  the  burgomaster  reluc- 
tantly. 

When  he  was  alone  with  his  wife  again  he  asked 
hurriedly  : 

"Will  you  be  indulgent  with  me,  and  will  you 
help  me  ?" 

She  nodded  assent  and  tried  to  smile. 

He  saw  that  she  w^as  not  happy  and  it  grieved 
him.  He  stretched  out  his  hand  to  her  again  and 
said  : 

"  Better  days  are  coming  when  I  can  be  more  to 
you  than  I  am  now.  What  was  it  you  wanted  to 
sav  to  me  ?" 

"  Whether  I  tell  you  or  not  will  make  little  dif- 
ference to  the  state." 

"  But  it  will  to  you.  So  lift  your  head  again  and 
look  at  me.  Be  quick,  sweet,  for  they  are  already 
on  the  stairs." 

"It  isn't  worth  speaking  of — a  year  a^o  to-day — 
we  might  have  celebrated  our  wedding-day  to- 
day." 

"  Our  wedding-day !"  he  cried,  striking  his  hands 
together.  "  You  are  riglit,  it  is  the  seventeenth  of 
April  and  1 — I  had  forgotten  it !" 

He  drew  her  lovingly  to  him,  the  door  opened 
and  Adrian  conducted  the  baron  into  the  room. 

Van  tier  Werff  bowed  courteously  to  his  unwonted 
guest,  then  he  called  affectionately  after  his  wife, 
who  was  retreating,  blushing  : 

"  My  congratulaiions !     I  will  join  you  shortly. 


THE  BTTRaOMASTER'S  WIFE.  23 

Adrian,  we  celebrate  a  great  anniversary  today-- 
our  wedding-day." 

The  lad  slipped  quickly  out  of  the  door,  near 
which  he  had  been  standing,  for  he  suspected  that 
the  distmguished  guest's  visit  boded  him  no  good. 

He  paused  in  the  hall,  thinking.  Then  he  sped 
up  tiie  staircase,  got  his  featherless  cap,  and  hurried 
outside  the  city  gates. 

There  he  saw  his  comrades,  who  with  sticks  and 
stones  were  placing  themselves  in  battle  array. 

He  would  have  liked  to  join  them  and  for  that 
reason  he  did  not  wish  to  hear  the  shouts  of  tlie 
combatants,  and  ran  toward  the  Zylhof  until  he  was 
out  of  reach  of  their  voices. 

Then  he  slackened  his  pace,  and,  with  bended 
back  and  sometimes  on  his  knees,  he  followed  along 
a  little  canal  that  emptied  into  the  Ehine. 

As  soon  as  his  cap  was  filled  with  the  white,  blue 
and  yellow  spring  flowers  he  had  been  gathering 
he  seated  himself  on  a  boundary  stone,  and,  after 
arranging  them  into  a  brilliant  nosegay,  he  started 
with  it  for  home. 

On  a  bench  near  the  gate  sat  the  elderly  maid- 
servant with  his  little  six-year  old  sister.  To  the 
latter  lie  handed  the  flowers,  which  he  had  hitherto 
kept  hidden  behind  his  back. 

"  Take  these,  Elizabethchen,"  he  said,  "  and  carry 
them  to  mamma  ;  to-day  is  the  anniversay  of  her 
wedding-day.  I  know  it  is.  And  carry  her  a 
pretty  message  from  us  both." 

The  little  one  started  up,  and  the  old  woman 
said : 

"  You  are  a  good  lail,  Adrianchen." 

"  Do  you  think  so  <"  he  asked,  as  all  the  sins  of  the 
morning  rose  before  his  mind. 

But  unfortunately  they  caused  him  no  remorse; 
and  his  lips  twitched  and  a  roguish  light  came  into 


24  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

his  eyes  as  he  patted  the  old  woman's  shoulder  and 
whispered  softly  in  her  ear : 

"  Hair  has  been  flying  to-day,  Trautchen.  Up  in 
my  room,  under  the  bed,  you  will  find  my  doublet 
and  my  new  hose.  No  one  can  mend  as  well  as 
you." 

The  old  serving  woman  shook  her  finger  at  him, 
but  he  turned  swiftly  and  ran  to  the  Zylthor,*  this 
time  to  lead  the  Spaniards  against  the  Netherlanders. 

*  Zyl-gate. 


TEE  BURQ0MASTb:R'8  WIFE.  25 


CHAPTEE  III. 

The  burgomaster  had  bidden  the  nobleman  to 
seat  himself  in  his  study-chair,  but  he  himself  re- 
mained half  leaning,  half  sitting  on  the  desk,  and 
listened  to  his  distinguished  guest,  not  without 
im|)atience. 

"Before  we  speak  of  more  important  matters," 
began  Herr  Matenesse  van  Wibisma,  "  I  wish  to 
appeal  to  you,  as  a  just  man,  for  punishment  for  the 
insult  offered  to  my  race  in  this  city." 

"  Speak  on,"  said  the  burgomaster,  and  the  noble- 
man recounted  briefly  and  with  unconcealed  indig- 
nation the  story  of  the  attack  made  upon  his  son 
near  St.  Peter's. 

"  I  shall  inform  the  rector  of  this  unfortunate 
affair,"  answered  Van  der  "VVerff,  "  and  the  culprits 
will  get  their  just  deserts  ;  but,  forgive  me,  noble 
sir,  if  I  ask  :  Have  you  inquired  as  to  who  began 
the  quarrel?" 

Herr  Matenesse  van  "Wibisma  looked  at  the 
burgomaster  in  surprise  and  answered  haughtily  : 

"  You  have  heard  my  son's  statement." 

"  Both  sides  must  be  given  a  fair  hearing,"  Van 
der  Werff  answered  quietly.  "  It  is  the  ancient 
custom  of  the  Netherlands." 

"My  son  bears  my  name  and  speaks  the  truth." 

"  Our  lads  are  named  plain  Leendert  or  Adrian 
or  Gerrit,  but  they  do  the  same,  and  so  I  must  ask 
you  to  send  the  young  gentleman  to  the  hearing  at 
the  school." 


26  TUB  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"  By  no  means,"  answered  the  the  nobleman.  "  If 
I  had  thouf^ht  the  matter  belonged  to  the  rector's 
province  1  should  have  gone  to  him  and  not  to  you, 
Herr  Peter.  My  son  has  his  own  instructor  and  he 
was  not  attacked  in  your  school,  which  he  has  out- 
grown, moreover,  for  he  is  already  seventeen,  but  in 
the  public  streets  over  whose  safety  it  is  your  duty 
as  burgomaster  to  \vatch." 

"  Very  well,  then,  make  your  complaint,  bring  the 
young  man  before  the  judges,  procure  witnesses, 
and  let  the  law  take  its  course.  But,  my  lord," 
continued  Yan  der  Werff,  checking  the  impatience 
in  his  voice,  "  were  you  yourself  never  young? 
Have  3'^ou  completely  forgotten  the  brawls  under 
the  citadel  ?  What  pleasure  can  it  afford  you  if  we 
shut  up  a  few  thoughtless  wights  for  a  few  days  this 
sunny  weather  ?  The  rascals  will  find  some  way  of 
amusing  themselves,  shut  up  or  not,  and  the  parents 
alone  will  suffer."  The  last  words  were  spoken  in 
a  tone  of  such  friendly  good  nature  that  they  did 
not  fail  in  their  effect  upon  the  baron.  He  was  a 
handsome  man  whose  pleasant,  well-molded 
features  of  true  E'etherland  type  betrayed  anything 
but  hardness. 

"  If  you  speak  to  me  in  this  tone,"  he  answered 
smiling,  "  w^e  are  much  more  likely  to  come  to  an 
agreement.  I  will  say  only  this  :  if  the  brawl  had 
originated  in  play  or  in  a  boyish  quarrel,  I  would 
not  say  a  word — l^ut  when  even  cliildren  take  it 
upon  themselves  to  attack  with  insult  and  violence 
those  whose  opinions  differ  from  their  own,  it  ought 
not  to  be  allowed  to  pass  without  punishment.  The 
boys  shouted  that  foolish  name  after  my  son " 

"  It  is  indeed  an  insult,"  interrupted  Van  der 
Werff ;  "  a  very  ugly  name  it  is,  with  which  our 
people  designate  the  enemies  of  their  freedom." 

The  baron  rose  and  angrily  confronted  the  other. 


THE  B  UEOOMASTER  'S  WIFE.  2 7 

"  Who  says,"  he  cried,  striking  his  broad  padded 
breast,  "  wlio  says  that  we  grudge  Holland  her 
liberty  ?  We  are  as  eager  as  yoa  to  win  it  back  for 
the  States,  but  in  other  and  straighter  ways  than 
Orange." 

"  Whether  your  way  is  crooked  or  straight,  my 
lord,"  retorted  Van  der  Werflf,  "  is  not  for  me  to 
prove  here ;  but  one  thing  I  know  :  it  is  the  wrong 
way." 

"  It  will  lead  to  the  heart  of  Philip,  your  king 
and  mine." 

"  Yes,  if  he  had  what  we  in  Holland  call  a  heart," 
answered  the  other  with  a  bitter  smile.  Wibisma, 
however,  angrily  flung  back  his  head  and  answered 
reprovingl}'^ : 

"  Herr  Blirgemeister,  you  speak  of  the  anointed 
king  to  whom  I  have  sworn  allegiance." 

"  Freiherr  Matenesse,"  answered  Van  der  Werff, 
drawing  himself  up  to  his  full  height,  folding  his 
arms,  and  looking  the  nobleman  sharply  in  the  face, 
"  1  speak  rather  of  the  despot  whose  Council  of 
Blood  pronounced  all  bearing  the  name  of  a  Nether- 
lander, and  you  with  the  rest,  criminals  deserving  of 
death ;  who*  through  his  Alva,  his  murderous  devil, 
has  burned,  beheaded,  and  hanged  ten  thousand 
honest  burghers  and  lias  robbed  of  their  lands  and 
driven  from  the  country  ten  thousand  more ;  I 
speak  of  the  infamous  tyrant " 

"Enough!"  cried  the  nobleman, grasping  the  hilt 
of  his  sword.     "Who  gives  you  the  right " 

"  Who  gives  me  the  right  to  speak  such  bitter 
words,  you  were  going  to  say  ?"  interrupted  Herr 
Peter,  with  a  somber  glance  into  the  other's  eyes. 
"  Who  gives  me  the  right?  There  is  no  need  for  me 
to  conceal  it.  This  right  is  given  me  by  the  silent 
lips  of  my  gallant  father  who  was  beheaded  on  ac- 
count of  his  belief .;  this  right  is  given  me  by  the 


28  THE  B  UROOMASTER  'S  WIFE. 

despotic  decree  that,  without  form  of  law,  exiled 
me  and  mv  brothers  from  the  land  ;  this  rierht  is 
given  me  by  the  Spaniard's  broken  faith,  the  torn 
charters  of  this  land,  the  distress  of  the  poor,  brave, 
ill-used  people  who  will  go  to  destruction  unless  we 
save  them." 

"  Tou  will  not  save  them,"  answered  AVibisinn,  in 
a  calmer  tone.  "  You  will  pusii  into  the  abyss  the 
people  already  tottering  on  the  brink,  and  you,  too, 
will  perish  with  them." 

"We  are  the  pilots.  Perhaps  we  shall  rescue 
them  ;  perhaps  we  shall  go  down  with  those  for 
whom  we  are  ready  to  die." 

"  You  say  this,  and  yet  you  bind  to  yours  the  des- 
tiny of  a  beautiful  young  woman." 

"  Herr  Baron,  you  crossed  this  threshold  as  com- 
plainant to  the  burgomaster,  and  not  as  friend  or 
guest." 

"  Quite  true,  but  I  came  with  good  intentions ;  to 
warn  the  leader  and  chief  magistrate  of  this  beauti- 
f ull  and  unhappy  city.  You  have  escaped  the  tem- 
pest once,  but  another  and  far  more  terrible  one  is 
gathering  over  your  heads." 

"  We  do  not  fear  it." 

"  Not  even  now  V 

"Less  now,  and  with  good  reason,  than  ever 
before." 

"  Then  you  do  not  know  that  the  prince's 
brother " 

"On  the  fourteenth  Louis  of  Nassau  met  the 
Spaniards,  and  our  cause  looks  well." 

"  It  is  true  that  at  first  it  did  look  well." 

"  The  messenger  who  came  last  night " 

"  Ours  came  this  morning." 

"  This  morning,  you  say  't     What  then  ?" 

"  The  prince's  army  was  defeated  on  the  ]\rooker 
Haide  and  completely  destroyed.  Louis  of  Nassau 
himself  perished." 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  29 

Yan  der  Werff  pressed  his  fingers  hard  against 
the  wood  of  the  writing-desk.  The  fresh  color  in 
his  cheeks  and  lips  had  given  place  to  an  ashen 
pallor,  and  as  he  asked  in  a  low,  dull  voice:  "Louis 
dead,  really  dead  ?"  his  lips  were  drawn  with  pain. 

"  Dead,"  answered  the  baron  positively,  though 
sadly.  "  We  were  opponents,  but  Louis  was  a  noble 
youth.     I  mourn  him  with  you." 

"  Dead,  William's  favorite  dead  !"  murmured  the 
burgomaster  to  himself  as  in  a  dream.  Then  with 
an  effort  he  controlled  himself,  and  said  steadily  : 

"  Your  pardon,  noble  sir.  The  hours  fly ;  1  must 
hasten  to  the  Rathhaus." 

"  And  in  spite  of  the  news  I  bring,  you  will  con- 
tinue to  speak  in  favor  of  revolt  ?" 

"  Yes,  my  lord,  as  surely  as  I  am  a  Hollander.*' 

"  Remember  the  fate  of  Haarlem." 

"  I  think  of  the  resistance  of  its  burghers  and  of 
rescued  Alkamar." 

"  Man,  man  !"  cried  the  baron.  "  By  all  that  is 
sacred,  I  implore  you,  let  yourself  be  advised." 

"  Enough,  Ilerr  Baron,  I  must  go  to  the  Rath- 
haus." 

"  No,  this  one  word  more,  this  one  word.  I  know 
that  you  call  us  'Glippers,'  deserters,  and  not  that 
alone,  but  as  truly  as  I  hope  for  God's  mercy,  you 
judge  us  falsely.  No,  Herr  Peter,  no,  I  am  no 
traitor !  I  love  this  country  and  this  brave,  indus- 
trious people  with  as  much  fervor  as  you,  for  their 
blood  flows  in  my  veins  likewise.  I  too,  signed  the 
Compromise.  Here  I  stand.  Look  at  me.  Do  I 
look  like  a  Judas  ?  Do  I  look  like  a  Spaniard  ?  Can 
vou  blame  me  for  remaining  true  to  the  oath  that 
1  made  to  the  king  ?  Since  when  have  ]N  etherland- 
ers  trifled  with  their  oaths?  You,  the  friend  of 
Orange,  have  just  declared  that  you  grudge  no  man 
the  faith  to  which  he  clings,  and  I  do  not  doubt  it. 


30  THE  BUEOOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

Well,  I  hold  fast  to  the  old  Church ;  I  am  a  Catholic 
and  shall  remain  one.  But  at  this  hour  I  admit 
frankly  that  I  abhor,  as  you  do,  the  Inquisition  and 
the  bloody  deeds  of  Alva.  They  belong  as  little  to 
our  faith  as  iconoclasm  does  to  yours.  I  love  as  you 
do  the  liberties  of  our  land.  To  win  them  back  is 
my  purpose  as  well  as  yours.  But  how  can  we,  little 
band  that  we  are  ever  succeed  in  resisting  for  any 
length  of  time  the  strongest  power  in  the  world  ? 
Should  we  win,  once,  twice,  thrice,  for  every 
defeated  army  two  new  and  stronger  ones  w^ould 
follow.  "We  can  accomplish  nothing  by  force — but 
much  by  wise  submission  and  prudent  conduct. 
Philip's  coffers  are  empty  ;  he  has  need  of  his  armies 
in  other  lands.  Well,  then,  let  us  take  advantage  of 
his  necessities  and  compel  him  to  ratify  again  some 
lost  privilege  for  every  rebel  town  that  returns  to 
him.  Let  us  buy  from  him,  with  what  is  left  us  of 
the  old  wealth,  the  rights  that  he  seized  in  battle 
against  the  insurgents.  You  will  find  me  and  those 
who  think  with  me  waiting  with  open  hands.  Your 
voice  has  great  weight  in  the  Council  of  this  city. 
You  are  a  friend  of  Orange,  and  if  you  could  per- 
suade him " 

"To  what  m}-,  lord?" 

"  To  join  us.  We  know  that  in  Madrid  his  power 
is  appreciated  and  feared.  We  will  stipulate  as  a 
first  condition,  full  formveness  for  him  and  his 
followers.  King  Philip,  I  know,  will  restore  him  to 
favor  again " 

"  To  murder  him,"  answered  the  burgomaster 
decidedly.  "  Have  you  forgotten  those  other  false 
promises  of  pardons — have  you  forgotten  the  fate  of 
Egmont  and  Horn,  of  the  noble  Montigny  and  the 
other  seigneurs  ?  They  took  the  risk  and  went  into 
the  tiger's  den.  What  we  bought  to-day  woukl 
surely  be  taken  from  us  to-morrow,  for  what  oath 


THE  B  UROOMASTER  'S  WIFE.  31 

would  be  sacred  to  Philip  ?  I  am  no  statesman,  but 
this  I  know — were  he  to  restore  to  us  all  our 
liberties,  the  one  without  which  life  is  worthless  he 
would  never  grant  us." 

"Which,  Herr  Peter?" 

"  The  right  to  believe  as  our  hearts  dictate. 
You  mean  well,  in  j^our  way,  my  lord ;  but  you 
trust  the  Spaniard,  we  do  not ;  and  were  we  to,  we 
should  be  deluded  children.  You  have  nothing  to 
fear  for  your  faith,  but  we,  everything ;  you  think 
that  numbers  and  the  power  of  money  will  decide 
the  issue  in  this  struggle,  we  rely  on  the  hope  that 
God  will  help  to  victory  the  good  cause  of  a  coura- 
geous people  who  are  ready  to  die  a  thousand  deaths 
for  their  freedom's  sake.  This  is  my  belief  and  I 
shall  defend  it  in  the  Kathhaus," 

"  No,  Meister  Peter,  no  !  You  cannot,  ought  not." 

"  What  I  can  do  is  little,  what  I  ought  to  do 
stands  written  here,  and  I  shall  act  accordingly." 

"And thus  you  will  be  following  your  grieving 
heart  and  not  your  prudent  head,  and  you  will  be 
unable  to  give  others  any  but  bad  advice.  Eemem- 
ber,  man,  on  Mooker  Heide  Orange's  last  army  has 
been  utterly  destroyed." 

"  True,  my  lord,  and  therefore  we  must  use  this 
moment  for  deeds  and  not  words." 

"  I  can  say  the  same  thing  myself,  Herr  Biirge- 
meister,  for  there  are  many  friends  of  the  king  in 
Leyden  who  must  be  warned  against  blindly  follow- 
ing you  to  the  shambles." 

At  these  words  Van  der  Werff  stepped  back  from 
the  nobleman,  and  raising  his  deep  voice,  said  coldly 
and  authoritatively : 

"  Then,  as  guardian  of  the  safety  of  this  city,  I 

command  you  to  leave  Leyden  at  once.     If  you  are 

still  within  these  walls  after  noon  to-morrow,  I  will 

.  have  the  guard  conduct  you  outside  the  city  limits," 


32  TEE  BUROOMASTER^S  WIFE. 

The  baron  departed  without  a  word  of  farewell. 

As  soon  as  the  door  had  closed  behind  him  Van 
der  Werff  flung  himself  into  an  armchair  and  buried 
his  face  in  his  hands. 

When  he  raised  his  head  again  two  big  tears 
glistened  on  the  paper  upon  which  his  hands  had 
rested.  With  a  bitter  smile  he  brushed  them  away 
with  the  back  of  his  hand. 

"  Dead,  dead  !"  he  murmured,  and  the  figure  of 
the  brave  young  hero,  the  skillful  mediator,  the 
favorite  of  William  of  Orange,  rose  before  him  :  he 
asked  himself  how  this  fresh  blow  would  affect  the 
prince  whom  he  revered  as  the  country's  savior, 
and  admired  and  loved  as  the  wisest  and  most  un- 
selfish of  men.  William's  sorrow  affected  him  as 
though  it  were  his  own,  and  the  blow  that  the  cause 
of  liberty  had  suffered  was  severe  and  perhaps  never 
to  be  repaired. 

But  it  was  only  for  a  short  time  that  he  allowed 
himself  to  indulge  his  sorrow,  for  now  was  the  time 
to  summon  all  his  strength,  to  retrieve  what  had 
been  lost,  to  avert  by  fresh  deeds  the  grave  conse- 
quences of  Louis'  defeat  and  to  think  of  new 
means  for  carrying  on  the  struggle. 

With  heavily  knitted  brows  he  paced  the  room, 
thinking  over  plans,  devising  ways  and  means. 

Ilis  ^vife  had  opened  the  door  and  had  remained 
standing  on  the  threshold ;  he  did  not  notice  her, 
however,  until  she  spoke  his  name  and  came  toward 
him. 

She  held  in  her  hand  a  portion  of  the  flowers  tlie 
lad  had  brought  her,  the  rest  were  gayly  adorning 
her  bosom. 

"  Take  them,"  she  said,  holding  out  the  little 
nosegay.  "  Adrian  picked  them,  the  dear  bo3%  and 
you  know  now  what  they  mean." 

He  willingly  took  the  messengers  of  spring,  raised 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  33 

them  to  his  face,  drew  Maria  to  his  breast,  pressed  a 
long  kiss  upon  her  forehead,  and  then  said  gloomily  : 

"  So  this  is  how  we  celebrate  the  first  anniversary 
of  our  wedding-day !  Poor  child !  The  Glipper 
was  not  so  far  wrong;  perhaps  it  had  been  better 
and  wiser  in  me  had  I  not  bound  your  fate  to 
mine." 

"  Peter !"  she  cried  reproachfully,  "  how  can 
such  thoughts  have  come  to  you?" 

"  Louis  of  Nassau  is  dead,"  he  murmured  heavily  ; 
"  his  array  is  destroyed." 

"  Oh  !  oh  !"  she  cried,  clasping  her  hands  together 
in  dismay  ;  but  he  continued  : 

"It  was  the  last  of  our  forces.  The  coffers  are 
empty,  and  where  are  we  to  get  fresh  means?  and 
what  is  to  happen  now  ?  I  beg  of  you,  Maria,  leave 
me  to  myself ;  if  we  do  not  make  use  of  these  hours, 
if  we  do  not  find  the  right  way  now,  things  will 
fare  ill ;  they  must  fare  ill." 

So  saying,  he  fiimg  the  nosegay  upon  the  table, 
and  hastily  taking  up  a  paper,  began  to  scan  its  con- 
tents, and  without  looking  at  her,  motioned  her  aside. 

Tiie  young  wife's  heart  had  been  full  when  she 
entered  the  room.  She  had  expected  so  much  from 
this  hour,  and  now  she  was  standing  alone  in  the 
room,  though  he  shared  it  with  her.  Her  arms  had 
fallen  at  her  side  ;  she  gazed  at  him,  hurt,  humili- 
ated, and  bewildered. 

Maria  had  grown  up  in  the  midst  of  the  struggle 
for  freedom,  and  knew  how  to  appreciate  the  gravity 
of  the  news  he  had  received.  In  his  wooing  he  had 
told  her  that  a  life  full  of  danger  and  unrest  awaited 
her  at  his  side,  and  yet  she  had  gladly  followed  to 
the  altar  the  gallant  fighter  in  the  good  cause, 
which  had  also  been  her  father's,  for  she  had  hoped 
to  be  the  sharer  of  his  cares  and  struggles.  And 
now — what  was  she  allowed  to  be  to  him  ?     What 


34  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

did  he  accept  from  her?  She  was  not  a  weak 
woman,  but  what  had  he  been  disposed  to  share 
with  her,  on  this,  the  anniversary  of  their  wedding 
day? 

There  she  stood,  and  the  heart  that  had  been 
open  to  him  closed,  and  kept  her  from  calling  out 
to  him  and  saying  that  she  was  as  glad  to  sharo 
trouble  and  misfortune  with  him  as  honor  and 
success. 

He  had  found  what  he  sought,  and  was  reaching 
for  his  hat,  when  he  caught  sight  of  her. 

How  pale  and  disappointed  she  looked  as  she 
stood  there! 

His  heart  smote  him  ;  he  would  so  gladly  have 
expressed  in  words  the  great  love  he  felt  for  her; 
but  in  this  hour,  with  such  cares  in  his  breast,  ho 
could  not  do  it ;  and  so  he  only  held  out  both  hands 
to  her  and  said  affectionately : 

"  You  know  what  you  are  to  me,  Maria,  and  if 
you  do  not  know,  I  will  tell  you  this  evening,  I 
must  hasten  to  the  Council  now  or  else  a  whole  dav 
will  be  lost,  and  at  such  times  every  second  is  of 
importance.     Well,  Maria  ?" 

The  young  wife  looked  down.  She  would  gladlv 
have  run  to  his  arms,  but  her  injured  pride  would 
not  let  her,  and  a  secret  powder  held  her  hands  and 
kept  her  from  placing  them  in  his. 

"  Good-by,"  she  said  dully. 

"  Maria,  truly  the  time  is  ill-chosen  for  pouting," 
he  cried  reproachfully.  "  Come  and  be  my  sensible 
wife." 

But  she  did  not  come  at  once ;  he  heard  the  bells 
ringing  for  four  o'clock,  which  marked  the  close  of 
the  meeting  of  the  Council,  and  he  left  the  room 
without  looking  at  her. 

On  the  desk  still  lay  the  nosegay  ;  she  did  not  fail 
to  notice  it  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  she  kept 
back  the  tears. 


THE  BUHQOMASTER'a  WIFE.  35 


CHAPTER  IV. 

A  CROWD  of  burghers  had  assembled  before  the 
imposing-  Rathhaus.  The  news  of  the  defeat  of 
Louis  of  Nassau  had  soon  spread  through  all  eight- 
een quarters  of  the  city,  and  every  one  wished  to 
learn  something  more  definite,  and  to  express  to  his 
friends  his  grief  and  apprehension,  and  to  hear  what 
measures  the  council  meant  to  take  for  the  immedi- 
ate future. 

Two  messengers  had  confirmed  only  too  well  the 
report  of  Herr  Matenesse  van  Wibisma.  Louis  was 
dead,  his  brother  Henry  was  missing,  and  his  army 
was  completely  annihilated. 

The  clerk  of  the  Council,  Jan  van  Hout,  who  had 
been  teaching  the  boys  that  morning,  now  stepped 
to  a  window,  and,  after  informing  the  burghers  of 
the  serious  blow  that  the  freedom  of  the  country 
had  sustained,  called  upon  them  with  burning  words 
to  devote  themselves  body  and  soul  to  the  good 
cause. 

Loud  cheers  followed  this  speech.  Colored  caps 
and  feathered  hats  were  tossed  into  the  air,  sticks 
and  swords  were  brandished,  and  the  women  and 
children  who  had  pushed  in  among  the  men  waved 
their  handkerchiefs  and  drowned  the  burghers' 
voices  with  their  shriller  tones. 

The  members  of  tlie  doughty  militia  came  together 
to  commission  their  captain  to  give  the  assembled 
council  the  assurance  that  the  "  Schutterig  "  were 
resolved  to  stand  by  William  of  Orange  with  their 


36  THE  B  UROOMA  STEM 'S  WIVE. 

last  penn}'^  and  their  last  drop  of  blood,  and  that  they 
would  rather  die  iu  Holland's  cause  than  live  under 
Spanish  tyranny.  In  their  midst  were  many  grave 
and  deeply  troubled  faces,  for  these  men,  who  tilled 
the  ranks  of  their  own  free  will,  were  all  devoted  to 
Orange ;  his  sorrow  saddened  them — and  their 
country's  peril  grieved  them  to  the  heart.  As  soon 
as  the  four  burgomasters,  the  eight  aldermen,  and 
the  members  of  the  common  Council  who  were 
present  showed  themselves  at  the  windows,  hundreds 
took  up  the  Geusenlied  *,  which  had  already  been 
started  by  a  few,  and  when  at  sunset  the  volatile 
folk  dispersed  and,  still  singing,  made  their  wa}' 
singly  or  in  groups  toward  the  taverns  to  strengthen 
by  a  refreshing  drink  their  confidence  in  happier 
days  and  to  dispel  man}'^  well-founded  fears,  the 
market  place  of  Ley  den  looked  as  though  the  news 
of  some  great  victory  had  just  been  read  from  the 
Rathhaus. 

The  cheers  and  the  Geusenlied  had  indeed  sounded 
most  impressive — but  so  many  hundreds  of  Dutch 
throats  were  capable  of  shaking  the  air  with  might- 
ier shouts. 

This  very  observation  had  been  made  by  three 
well-dressed  burghers  who  were  walking  along  the 
broad  street,  and  the  eldest  of  them  said  to  his 
companions : 

''  They  are  boasting  and  shouting  now  and  think 
themselves  very  big,  but  we  shall  see  that  things 
will  soon  be  very  ditferent." 

"  May  God  avert  the  worst !"  answered  one  of  his 
companions,  "  but  tlie  Spaniards  are  sure  to  return 
now,  and  in  my  quarter  I  know  many  who  will  not 
vote  for  resistance  this  time." 

"  They  are  right,  a  thousand  times  right.    Reque- 

*  The  song  of  the  "  Beggars." 


THBJ  B  UMOO MASTER 'S  WIFE.  37 

sens  is  no  Alva,  and  if  we  were  voluntarily  to  com- 
mend ourselves  to  the  king's  mercy " 

"  There  would  be  no  shedding  of  blood  and  all 
would  be  well." 

"  I  would  rather  be  Dutch  than  Spanish,"  said  the 
thirdj  "  but  with  Mooker  Heide,  all  resistance  is  at 
an  end.  Orange  may  be  a  gallant  gentleman,  but — 
near  is  my  shirt  but  nearer  is  my  skin." 

"  And  after  all,  it  is  only  for  him  that  we  are 
placing  life  and  property  at  stake." 

"  Exactly  what  my  wife  said  yesterday." 

"  He  isn't  going  to  advance  trade  ;  he  least  of  all. 
Believe  me,  many  think  as  we  do,  or  the  Geusenlied 
would  have  sounded  louder." 

"  There  are  always  five  fools  to  three  wise  men," 
said  the  elder  burgher.  "  1  took  good  care  not  to 
open  my  mouth." 

"  And  what  is  there  so  very  wonderful  behind 
this  cry  for  liberty  ?  Alva  burned  the  Bible  readers 
and  De  la  Marc  hangs  the  priests.  My  wife  is  fond 
of  going  to  mass,  but  when  she  goes  she  does  it  in 
secret,  as  though  she  were  committing  a  crime." 

"  AVe  also  cling  to  the  old  faith." 

"  It  isn't  a  question  of  belief,"  said  the  third. 
"  We  are  Calvinists,  but  I  am  no  longer  of  a  mind 
to  fling  my  pennies  into  Orange's  maw,  nor  do  I 
care  to  tear  down  again  the  frames  outside  the 
Kuhthor,*  where  my  stuffs  are  hanging  before  the 
wind  has  fully  dried  the  yarn." 

"  Let  us  only  stand  together,"  counseled  the 
eldest.  "  The  people  dare  not  speak  their  minds  as 
yet,  and  every  ragged  beggar  may  play  the  hero. 
But  I  tell  you,  there  are  sensible  men  enough  in 
every  quarter  and  every  guild,  and  even  in  the 
Council  and  among  the  burgomasters." 

♦  Cow-gate. 


38  THE  BURQ0MASTEIV8  WIFE. 

"  Hush !"  whispered  the  second  burgher,  "  here 
comes  Van  der  Werff  with  the  clerk  of  the  Council 
and  young  Ilerr  van  der  Does ;  they  are  tlie  worst 
of  them  all," 

The  three  men  named  came  down  the  broad 
street,  talking  in  eager  but  low  tones. 

"My  uncle  was  right,  Meister  Peter,"  said  Jan 
van  der  Does,  the  same  tall  gentleman  who  had 
that  morning  sent  Nicolas  van  Wibisma  home  with 
a  piece  of  good  advice.  "There  is  no  help  for  it, 
you  must  go  to  the  prince  and  take  counsel  with 
him." 

"  I  must  indeed,"  answered  the  burgomaster.  "  I 
will  start  to-morrow." 

"  Not  to-morrow,"  Yan  Hout  broke  in,  "The 
prince  rides  fast  and  if  you  do  not  find  him  in 
Delft " 

"  You  go  before  me,"  begged  Yan  der  Werff,  "  you 
have  the  record  of  our  sitting." 

"  I  cannot ;  but  you,  the  prince's  friend,  are 
lacking  in  readiness  to-day  for  the  first  time." 

"  You  are  right,  Jan,"  cried  the  burgomaster, 
"  and  you  shall  Ivnow  what  detains  me." 

"  If  they  are  things  of  whicli  a  friend  can  relieve 
you,  here  he  stands,"  said  Herr  von  Nordwvk. 

Yan  der  AVerff  grasped  the  hand  that  the  young 
noble  offered  him  and  answered  with  a  smile  :'  "  No, 
my  lord,  no.  You  know  my  young  wife.  To-day 
we  ought  to  have  celebrated  the  first  anniversary  of 
our  wedding,  and  I,  what  with  all  these  troubles, 
shamelessly  forgot  it." 

"  Hard,  hard,"  said  Yan  Ilont  softly.  Then  he 
drew  himself  erect  and  added  firmly  :  "  And  yet ! 
if  I  were  you,  I  would  go  in  spite  of  Frau  Maria." 

"  You  would  go  to-day  ?" 

"  To-day,  for  to-morrow  it  may  be  too  late.  Who 
knows  how  soon  egress  may  be  debarretl  us,  and 


THE  BURGOMASTER' 8  WIFE.  39 

before  we  again  dare  the  worst,  we  must  know  the 
prince's  opinion.  He  is  the  head,  we  are  the  hands. 
You,  sir,  stand  closer  to  him  than  either  of  us," 

"  And  God  knows  how  wilHngly  I  would  carry 
him  a  word  of  cheer  in  these  sad  hours,  but  it  can- 
not be  to-day.     The  messenger  has  taken  m}^  bay." 

"  Then  take  my  chestnut ;  he  is  faster  than  yours 
besides,"  said  Janus  Dousa,  and  Van  der  Werff 
answered  quickly  : 

"  Thank  you.  To-morrow,  early,  I  will  send  for 
him." 

The  blood  rushed  to  Yan  Hout's  head.  He 
thrust  his  hand  impatiently  between  girdle  and 
doublet  and  cried  :  "  Send  the  chestnut  to  me,  my 
lord,  if  the  Herr  Biirgemeister  will  give  me  leave  of 
absence." 

"  No,  send  him  to  me,"  broke  in  Peter  calmly. 
"  AVhat  must  be,  must  be  ;  I  will  ride  to-night." 

Van  Hout's  manly  features  cleared  at  once,  and 
seizing  the  burgomaster's  hand  in  both  of  his,  he 
said  joyfully : 

"  You  have  my  thanks,  Herr  Peter.  And  do  not 
take  offense  ;  you  know  my  hot  head.  Send  your 
young  wife  to  mine  if  the  time  seems  long  to  her." 

"  And  to  mine,"  added  Dousa.  "  It  is  a  curious 
thing  about  the  two  little  words  '  wish  '  and  '  ought.' 
The  freer  and  better  a  man  is  the  more  he  finds  that 
the  first  is  slave  to  the  second." 

"And  yet  I  would  wager,  Herr  Peter,  that  your 
wife  will  confound  the  two  words  and  will  believe 
that  you  have  taken  a  wrong  view  of  the  'ought.' 
These  are  bad  times  for  '  wish.'  " 

Van  der  Werif  nodded  ossent  and  briefly  laid  be- 
fore his  friends  what  he  proposed  to  make  known  to 
the  prince. 

The  three  men  separated  in  front  of  his  house. 

"Tell   the  prince,"  said  Van  Hout   in   parting, 


40  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"  that  we  are  prepared  for  the  worst ;  we  are  ready 
to  suffer  and  to  dare  all," 

At  these  words  Janus  Dousa  measured  his  two 
colleagues  with  a  glance,  his  li))s  quivered  as  they 
always  did  when  lie  was  strongly  moved,  and  his 
keen  face  shone  with  joy  and  confidence  as  he  cried  : 
"  We  three  will  endure,  we  throe  will  stand  firm  ; 
the  tyrant  can  break  our  necks,  but  he  shall  not 
bend' them.  Our  bodies  and  our  lives,  all  that  we 
possess,  all  that  man  holds  dear  and  worth  the  hav- 
ing, we  will  give  for  the  greatest  of  all  possessions. 

"  Yes,"  said  Van  der  Werff  in  a  loud  and  earnest 
tone,  and  Van  Hout  repeated  passionately  :  "  Yes, 
yes,  and  once  more,  yes." 

For  an  instant  the  hands  of  the  three  friends 
clasped  each  other  in  a  firm  grasp.  A  silent  vow 
united  them  at  this  hour,  and  as  Ilerr  von  Kordwyk 
turned  one  way  and  Van  Hout  another,  it  seemed 
to  the  burghers  who  met  them  that  their  tall  figures 
had  grown  taller  during  the  past  hours. 

The  burgomaster  Avent  at  once  to  his  wife's  room, 
but  she  was  not  there. 

She  had  gone  for  a  walk  with  his  sister  outside 
the  cit}"^  gates. 

The  maid  carried  a  light  to  his  room  ;  he  followed 
her,  examined  the  locks  of  his  pistols,  buckled  on 
his  sword,  placed  what  he  needed  in  his  saddle-bags, 
and  then,  drawn  to  his  full  height,  his  mind  com- 
pletely filled  with  his  purpose,  he  paced  the  room, 
lost  in  meditation. 

Ilerr  von  Nordwyk's  chestnut  was  standing  on 
the  pavement  below,  and  above  the  roofs  rose  the 
evening  star. 

The  house  door  opened. 

He  stepped  into  the  hall,  but  he  found  there  not 
his  wife  but  only  Adrian,  who  had  just  come  home. 

He  commiijs-ioned  the  boy  to  give  a  loving  message 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  41 

to  his  mother  and  to  tell  her  that  important  matters 
summoned  him  to  the  prince. 

The  old  serving  woman  had  already  undressed 
and  washed  the  little  Elizabetii.  She  brought  him 
the  child  wrapped  in  a  coverlet. 

He  kissed  the  sweet  little  face,  which  smiled  'at 
him  from  the  queer  mufflings,  pressed  his  lips  to 
Adrian's  forehead,  enjoined  upon  him  once  more  to 
give  the  message  to  his  mother,  and  then  rode  off 
down  the  Marendorpstrasse. 

As  he  reached  St.  Stephen's  cloister  two  women 
came  toward  him  from  the  direction  of  the  Kheins- 
burgerthor.*  He  did  not  notice  them,  but  the 
younger  of  them  pushed  back  her  hood  and  gazed 
after  him,  and  her  fingers  closed  sharply  on  her 
companion's  wrist  as  she  exclaimed  in  a  low  voice : 

"  That  was  Peter  !" 

Frau  Barbara  raised  her  head. 

"  It  is  well  that  I  am  not  easily  frightened,"  she 
answered.  "  Only  let  go  my  arm !  Do  you  mean 
the  horseman  who  is  jogging  past  the  lane  of  St. 
Ursula  ?" 

«  Yes,  it  is  Peter." 

"  ISTonsense,  child !  His  bay  has  shorter  legs  than 
that  camel  there ;  and  Peter  never  rides  out  at  this 
hour." 

"  But  it  was  he." 

"  Nothing  of  the  sort !  At  night  lindens  look  like 
beeches.  It  would  be  a  tine  thing  indeed,  if  ho 
should  not  come  home  to-day." 

These  last  words  had  involuntarily  escaped  Frau 
Barbara's  lips  ;  for  until  then  she  had  wisely  ap- 
peared to  be  unconscious  that  between  Maria  and 
her  husband  all  was  not  as  it  should  be  ;  she  was, 
nevertheless,  fully  aware  of  what  was  passing  in  her 
sister-in-law's  mind. 

*  Eheinsburger-gate. 


42  THE  B  URQOMASTER  'S  WIFE. 

She  was  a  clever  and  worldly-wise  woman,  she  by 
no  means  underestimated  licr  brother  and  his  im- 
portance to  the  cause  of  the  fatherland  ;  indeed  she 
went  so  far  as  to  believe  that,  aside  from  the  Prince 
of  Orange,  no  man  on  earth  was  more  capable  than 
Peter  of  conducting  the  cause  of  freedom  to  a  suc- 
cessful issue  ;  but  she  felt  that  her  brother  was  not 
acting  as  he  should  toward  Maria,  and  as  Barbara 
was  a  just  woman,  she  sided  silently  against  the 
man  who  was  neglecting  his  wife. 

They  walked  on  in  silence  for  a  space. 

At  last  the  widow  paused  and  said  : 

"  Perhaps  the  prince  has  sent  for  Peter.  At  such 
a  time,  after  such  a  blow,  all  things  are  possible.  It 
may  be  that  you  saw  truly." 

"  It  was  undoubtedly  he,"  answered  Maria  posi- 
tively. 

"  Poor  man  !"  said  the  other.  "  It  will  be  a  bitter 
journey  for  him !  Many  honors  bring  many  cares. 
There  is  no  reason  for  you  to  hang  your  head. 
Your  husband  will  be  back  to-morrow  or  next  day  ; 
but  I — look  at  me,  Maria,  I  go  conscientiously 
through  life,  doing  my  duty  cheerfully ;  my 
cheeks  are  red  and  m}^  appetite  is  good,  and  yet  I 
have  had  to  give  up  what  was  dearest  to  me.  I 
have  borne  my  widowhood  for  ten  years ;  my 
Gretchen  has  married  and  left  me,  and  Cornelius  I 
sent  myself  to  join  the  Beggars  of  the  Sea.  Any 
hour  may  rob  me  of  him,  for  his  life  is  one  of 
constant  danger.  What  has  a  widow  beside  her 
onl}'-  son  ?  And  I  gave  him  up  for  the  country's 
cause  !  It  is  a  harder  thing  than  to  see  one's  hus- 
band ride  away  for  a  few  hours  on  the  anniversary 
of  one's  wedding-day.  He  certamly  does  not  do  it 
for  his  own  pleasure!" 

"  We  have  reached  home,"  said  Maria,  and  lifted 
the  knocker. 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  43 

Trautchen  opened  the  door,  and,  before  she  crossed 
the  threshold,  Barbara  asked : 

"  Is  the  master  at  home?" 

The  answer  was  in  the  negative,  as  she  herself  had 
come  to  expect. 

Adrian  delivered  his  message  ;  Trautchen  brought 
in  supper,  but  the  conversation  was  restricted  to 
"  3^es  "  and  "  no." 

When  Maria  had  hurried]  y  murmured  the  blessing, 
she  rose,  and  turning  to  Barbara  said : 

"  My  head  is  aching;  I  think  I  shall  go  to  bed." 

''Yes,  try  to  get  some  rest,"  replied  the  widow, 
"  I  will  sleep  in  the  next  room  and  will  leave  the 
door  open.  With  darkness  and  quiet  come  melan- 
chol}''  thoughts." 

Maria  kissed  her  sister-in-law  with  unaffected 
warmth  and  went  to  her  room  ;  but  she  could  not 
sleep  and  tossed  about  uneasily  on  her  bed  till  mid- 
night. 

She  heard  Barbara  cough  in  the  next  room,  she 
sat  up  and  asked : 

"  Are  you  asleep  ?" 

«  No,  child.     Do  you  feel  ill  2" 

"  No,  but  I  am  so  uneasy— I  am  tormented  by 
horrible  thoughts." 

Barbara  lighted  a  taper,  and  carrying  it  into 
the  sleeping-room,  seated  herself  on  the  edge  of  the 
bed. 

It  went  to  her  heart  to  see  the  sweet,  young 
creature  lying  there  alone  and  troubled,  unable  to 
sleep  for  bitter  heartache. 

She  had  never  seen  Maria  look  so  beautiful.  Like 
a  sorrowing  angel,  she  lay  in  her  white  night-robe 
on  the  snowy  pillows. 

Barbara  could  not  refrain  from  stroking  the  hair 
from  the  low  forehead  and  kissing  the  flushed 
cheek. 


44  TEE  B  URO0MA8TER  '8  WIFE. 

Maria  looked  gratefully  into  her  small  light-blue 
eyes  and  said  pleadingly  : 

I  would  like  to  ask  you  something." 

Well  ?" 

But  you  will  tell  me  the  truth?" 

You  ask  too  much." 

I  know  that  you  are  frank,  but ^* 

Come,  out  with  it !" 

Was  Peter  happy  with  his  first  wife  ?" 

Yes ;  child,  yes." 

And  you  knew  it  not  from  him  alone,  but  from 
Eva  herself  ?" 

Yes,  dear,  yes." 

And  you  cannot  be  mistaken?" 

No  ;  in  this  case,  certainly  not.  But  what  puts 
such  thoughts  into  your  head  ?  'Let  the  dead  bury 
the  dead,'  the  Scriptures  say.  Now  turn  over  and 
try  to  sleep." 

Barbara  returned  to  her  room,  but  hours  passed 
before  Maria  found  the  sleep  she  sought. 


TEE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  45 


CHAPTEK    V. 

The  following  morning,  two  mounted  retainers 
in  neat  liveries  drew  rein  in  the  Nobelstrasse  before 
a  fine  house  not  far  from  the  market  place.  A 
third  led  up  and  down  two  piebald  horses  of  ])ow- 
erful  build,  and  a  stable-boy  held  by  the  bridle  a 
gayly  caparisoned  pony.  This  last  was  to  carry 
the  young  negro  who  was  standing  in  the  doorway, 
keeping  off  the  street  arabs  who  ventured  to  ap- 
proach him,  by  rolling  his  eyes  and  gnashing  his 
white  teeth  at  them. 

"  What  can  be  keeping  them  ?"  asked  one  of  the 
two  horsemen.  "  The  rain  won't  be  long  in  coming 
to-day." 

"  It  will  not,  truly,"  answered  the  other.  "  The 
sky  is  as  gray  as  my  old  felt  hat,  and  by  the  time 
we  reach  the  wood  the  storm  will  be  upon  us." 

"  There's  a  thick  mist  already." 

"  I  dislike  such  raw  weather  above  all  things." 

"  It  was  finer  yesterday." 

"  Buckle  the  flaps  of  "'the  holsters  tighter.  The 
wallet  behind  the  young  lord's  saddle  is  not  quite 
straight.  That's  right.  Did  the  cook  fill  your  flask 
for  you  f 

"  With  brown  Spanish  wine.     There  it  is." 

"  Then  let  the  rain  come  if  it  will.  AVhen  a  man 
is  wet  within  he  can  stand  a  deal  of  damp  without." 

"Bring  up  the  horses  to  the  door;  I  hear  the 
masters." 


46  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

The  horseman  was  not  mistaken ;  for  before  his 
comrade  had  succeeded  in  bringing  the  taller  of  the 
animals  to  a  standstill,  there  came  from  the  wide 
hail  the  voices  of  his  master,  Herr  Matenesse  van 
Wibisma  and  of  the  young  lord,  Nicolas. 

Both  were  exclianging  friendly  words  of  farewell 
with  a  young  girl,  whose  voice  sounded  deeper  than 
that  of  the  half-grown  lad. 

The  elder  noble  had  begun  to  twist  his  hand  in 
the  piebald's  mane,  and  had  already  raised  his  foot 
to  place  it  in  the  stirrup,  when  the  young  girl,  wlio 
had  remained  behind  in  the  hall,  stepped  out  into 
the  street,  and  laying  her  hand  on  Wibisma's  arm, 
said : 

"  One  word  more,  uncle  ;  but  with  you  alone." 

The  baron  still  retained  his  hold  of  the  horse's 
mane,  but  responded  with  a  courteous  smile  : 

"  I  only  trust  that  it  will  not  be  too  heavy  for  my 
steed;  such  a  secret  from  a  pretty  mouth  has  its 
weight." 

With  that  he  bent  his  head  toward  his  niece ;  she, 
however,  seemed  to  have  no  thought  of  whispering, 
for  she  came  no  nearer  to  him,  and  said  in  an  under- 
tone only,  though  in  Italian  : 

"  Tell  my  fatber,  please,  that  1  shall  not  stay 
here." 

"  But,  Ilenrika !" 

"  Tell  him  I  will  not  remain  under  any  circum- 
stances." 

"  Your  aunt  will  not  let  you  go." 

"  Once  for  all,  1  will  not  remain." 

"  I  will  deliver  your  message,  but  in  a  somewhat 
milder  form,  if  you  Avill  allow  me." 

"  As  you  choose.  Only  tell  him  that  I  beg  him 
to  send  for  me.  If  he  does  not  care  himself  to  enter 
this  nest  of  heretics,  for  which  I  do  not  blame  him 
in  the  least,  let  him  send  me  horses  or  the  carriage." 


THE  BURGOMASrEB'S  WIFE.  47 

"  And  your  reasons  ?" 

"  I  will  not  make  your  burden  heavier.  Now  go, 
or  your  saddle  will  be  wet  before  you  start." 

"  Then  I  am  to  comfort  iloogstraten  with  the 
prospect  of  a  letter  V 

"  No,  such  things  can't  be  written.  Tell  my 
father  that  I  will  not  stay  with  my  aunt,  and  wish 
to  go  home.  Good-by,  Nico  !  The  riding  boots 
and  doublet  of  green  cloth  are  more  becoming  to 
you  than  silken  tincry." 

The  girl  kissed  her  hand  to  the  young  noble  w^ho 
had  already  swung  himself  into  the  saddle,  and  ran 
back  into  the  house.  Her  uncle  shrugged  his 
shoulders,  mounted  his  horse,  wrapped  himself  more 
closely  in  his  dark  cloak,  beckoned  Nicolas  to  his 
side,  and  rode  on  with  him  in  advance  of  the 
servants. 

As  long  as  their  way  led  through  the  town  no 
word  was  exchanged  between  them ;  once  outside 
the  gate,  however,  Wibisma  said  : 

"  Henrika  finds  the  time  hang  heavy  in  Leyden ; 
she  wishes  to  return  to  her  father." 

"  It  cannot  be  very  easy  to  live  with  our  cousin," 
answered  the  lad. 

"  She  is  old  and  sick,  and  her  life  has  been  a  joy- 
less one." 

"  But  she  was  beautiful  once.  One  cannot  see 
many  traces  of  it  now,  but  her  eyes  are  still  as  they 
are  in  her  portrait,  and  besides,  she  is  so  rich." 

"  That  does  not  bring  happiness." 

"  But  why  did  she  remain  single  ?" 

The  baron  shrugged  his  shoulders  and  replied  : 

"  It  was  no  fault  of  the  men." 

"  Then  why  didn't  she  go  into  a  convent?" 

"  Who  can  tell  ?  Women's  hearts  are  harder  to 
understand  than  your  Greek  books.  You  will  find 
this  out  later.  What  were  you  saying  to  your 
cousin  as  I  came  up  ?" 


48  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"  Look,"  answered  the  boy,  taking  the  reins  in 
his  teeth  and  pulling  off  the  glove  from  his  left 
hand;  "she  placed  this  ring  on  my  finger." 

"A  superb  emerald  !  She  is  usually  reluctant  to 
part  with  such  things." 

"  She  offered  me  another  at  first  and  said  that 
she  gave  it  to  me  to  console  me  for  the  blows  I  re- 
ceived yesterday  as  a  true  adherent  of  the  king. 
Wasn't  that  strange?" 

"  More  than  that,  I  should  say," 

"  It  went  against  the  grain  for  me  to  take  a 
reward  for  my  black  and  blue  spots,  so  1  drew  my 
hand  quickly  away  and  said  that  the  burgher  lads 
had  carried  home  some  of  my  giving  and  that  as  a 
reward  for  that,  I  would  take  the  circlet." 

"  Right,  Nico,  right." 

"  So  she  said  too ;  she  laid  the  little  ring  in  the 
casket  again  and  selected  this  one,  and  here  it  is." 

"A  rare  gem!"  murmured  the  baron,  and  then  to 
himself:  "This  gift  is  likewise  a  good  omen.  He 
and  the  Hoogstratens  are  her  nearest  heirs,  and  if 
the  silly  girl  will  not  remain  with  her " 

But  he  had  no  time  to  carry  these  reflections  to  a 
conclusion,  for  his  son  broke  in  upon  tliem,  saying  : 

"  The  rain  is  already  beginning  !  Don't  the  mists 
over  there  on  the  meadows  look  like  clouds  fallen 
from  the  sky  ?     How  cold  I  am !" 

"  Draw  your  cloak  closer  about  you." 

"  How  it  rains  and  hails  !  One  would  think  that 
winter  had  come  again.  The  water  in  the  canals 
looks  black,  and  there — look — what  is  that?" 

By  the  roadside  stood  a  tavern,  and  before  it  rose 
a  solitary  and  lofty  elm,  the  trunk  of  which,  straight 
and  bare  as  a  mast,  did  not  separate  into  branches 
until  it  attained  the  height  of  a  house.  Spring  had 
not  yet  brought  any  leaves  to  its  boughs,  but  in  the 
tree's  bare  top  there  were  many  things  to  be  seen. 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  49 

To  one  branch  was  fastened  a  pennon  with  the 
colors  of  the  House  of  Orange,  to  another  hung  a 
huge  doll,  which  from  a  distance  looked  like  a  man 
clad  in  black,  from  a  third  swung  an  old  hat,  and  to 
a  fourth  was  affixed  a  piece  of  white  parchment  on 
which  was  written  in  large  black  letters  already 
blurred  by  the  rain  : 

"  Hail  to  Orange,  to  the  Spaniard  death, 
Thus  Peter  Quatgelat  welcomes  his  guests." 

This  gayly  decorated  tree  presented  a  by  no 
means  attractive  appearance  in  the  cold,  gray,  misty 
air  of  that  rainy  April  morning. 

Beside  the  puppet  swayed  to  and  fro  by  the  wind 
had  alighted  a  number  of  crows  that  had  mistaken 
it  for  an  actual  body.  They  must  have  been  birds 
of  small  intelligence,  for  since  the  Spaniards  had 
ruled  in  Holland  the  scaffolds  had  not  been  empty 
for  many  a  year.  The  crows  were  cawing  as  though 
with  disappointment,  but  they  nevertheless  remained 
sitting  on  the  tree  which  thev  doubtless  took  for  a 
scaffold.  The  other  absurd  decorations  and  the 
thought  of  the  nimble  dare-devil  who  must  have 
climbed  up  there  to  put  them  in  their  place  were  in 
harsh  and  unpleasant  contrast  to  this  caricature  of 
the  gallows. 

Nicolas,  however,  laughed  loudly  when  he  caught 
sight  of  the  curious  objects  in  the  top  of  the  elm, 
and  pointing  upward,  cried  : 

"  What  strange  fruits  are  hanging  there !" 

But  the  next  instant  a  shudder  passed  over  him, 
for  a  crow  had  fastened  upon  the  black  doll  and 
pecked  so  hard  at  it  with  its  beak  that  both  it  and 
the  bird  swayed  to  and  fro  like  a  pendulum. 

"  What  does  this  nonsense  mean  ?"  asked  the 
baron,  turning  to  the  man  who  rode  behind  him. 


50  THE  BUROOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"  It's  a  sort  of  tavern-sign,"  answered  the  latter. 
"  It  looked  gay  enough  yesterday  when  tlie  sun 
shone  upon  it,  but  to-day — b-r-r-r — it  makes  one 
creep." 

The  nobleman's  eyes  were  not  sharp  enough  to 
distinguish  the  inscription  on  the  parchment. 
When  JSTicolas  had  read  it  to  him  he  muttered  an 
oath,  then  turned  to  the  man  again,  and  asked  : 

"  And  does  this  nonsense  bring  guests  to  the  ras- 
cally landlord  ?" 

"  Yes,  my  lord;  and,  by  my  soul,  it  looked  corai- 
ca-1  enough  yesterday  when  the  crows  up  there  were 
lacking;  you  couldn't  look  at  it  without  laughing. 
Half  Leyden  was  out  here  and  we  let  ourselves  be 
drawn  out  with  the  crowd.  Such  goings  on  on  the 
gra,ss  plot  there.  Doodle-dum — hiibiitt — hi'ibiitt — 
doodle-dum — the  squeaking  of  fiddles  and  the  squeal- 
ing of  bagpipes  never  stopped.  And  the  shouts  of 
the  wild  mob  added  to  the  din  ;  the  noise  still  rings  in 
my  ears.  There  was  no  end  to  the  music  and  danc- 
ino;.  The  men  flung  their  brown  antl  red  and  blue- 
stockinged  legs  into  the  air  at  the  bidding  of  the 
fiddles,  and  with  a  girl  on  one  arm  and  a  beer  mug- 
held  high  over  their  heads,  round  and  round  i:hey 
went  with  flying  coat  tails.  There  was  as  much 
shouting  and  rejoicing  as  though  every  buttercup 
in  the  grass  had  turned  into  a  gold  gulden.  But 
to-day,  holy  Florian,  what  a  rain  it  is !" 

"Just  what  the  things  up  there  need,"  cried  the 
baron.  "  The  tinder  will  be  wet  in  such  a  down- 
pour, or  I  would  get  out  the  pistols  and  shoot  the 
shabby  liberty  hat  and  the  tawdry  rags  from  the 
tree." 

"The  dancing:  ground  was  there,"  observed  the 
man,  and  pointed  to  the  trampled  grass. 

"The  people  are  ))osscssed,  wholly  possessed," 
cried  the  baron.    "  Dancing  and  shouting  to-day,  and 


THE  BUR00MA8TEB'8  WIFE.  51 

to-morrow  the  wind  will  blow  the  hat  and  the  pennon 
from  the  tree,  and  instead  of  the  black  puppet,  they 
themselves  will  be  hanging  from  the  gallows. 
Steady,  steady  !  The  hailstones  frighten  the 
horses.  Unbuckle  the  wallet,  Gerritt,  and  give  your 
young  master  his  mantle." 

"  At  once,  my  lord  !  But  would  it  not  be  better 
to  enter  here  until  the  shower  passes?  Holy 
Florian  !  Look  at  the  hailstone  in  your  horse's 
mane  !  It's  as  large  as  a  pigeon's  egg.  There  are 
already  two  horses  standing  under  the  shed  and 
Quatgelat's  beer  is  not  bad." 

The  nobleman  looked  questioningly  at  his  son. 

"  Let  us  go  in,"  said  the  latter ;  "  we  shall  get  to 
the  Hague  early  enough.  Look  how  poor  Baltha- 
sar  is  shivering  !  Henrika  says  that  he  is  a  white 
painted  black,  but  if  she  could  see  how  well  the 
color  holds  in  this  downpour  she  would  take  it 
back." 

Herr  van  Wibisma  turned  his  dripping  and  smok- 
ing horse  toward  the  house,  and  in  a  few  moments 
he  and  his  son  crossed  the  threshold  of   the  tavern. 


52  TUE  B una OM ASTER'S  WIFE. 


CHAPTER  YI. 

As  THEY  entered  the  large,  low  room,  the  travel- 
ers were  met  by  a  rush  of  warm  air  laden  with  the 
fumes  of  beer  and  the  smell  of  food.  The  room 
was  dimly  lighted  on  two  sides  by  small  windows, 
which  deserved  scarcely  more  than  the  name  of 
portholes.  The  taproom  itself  looked  like  the 
cabin  of  a  ship.  The  ceiling  and  floor,  the  tables 
and  chairs  were  all  of  the  same  dark-brown  wood 
that  covered  the  walls,  along  which  were  ranged 
beds  like  bunks. 

The  host  had  advanced  with  many  bows  to  meet 
his  distinguished  guests,  and  had  escorted  them  to 
the  fireplace,  where  huge  blocks  of  peat  were  burn- 
ing. The  glow  they  sent  forth  served  several  pur- 
jioses.  It  svarmed  ihe  air,  lighted  a  portion  of  the 
room  darkened  by  the  heavy  rainstorm,  and  helped 
to  cook  three  chickens  that  were  beginning  to 
brown  on  an  iron  spit  over  the  fire. 

As  the  new  arrivals  approached  the  fire,  the  old 
woman  who  had  been  turning  the  spit  thrust  a 
white  cat  from  her  lap  and  stood  up. 

The  host  flung  upon  a  bench  the  cloaks  that  had 
been  hung  on  the  backs  of  two  chairs  to  dry,  and 
hung  in  their  places  the  cloaks  of  the  baron  and  his 
son. 

While  the  elder  Wibisma  was  ordering  warming 
drinks  for  himself  and  his  people,  Nicolas  led  the 
negro  to  the  fire. 

The  shivering  boy  cowered  on  the  floor  near  the 


TEE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  53 

ashes  and  thrust  out  to  the  flame  first  his  wet  feet 
shod  ill  red  morocco,  then  his  stiffened  fingers. 

Father  and  son  seated  themselves  at  a  table 
which  the  maid  had  spread  with  a  cloth.  The  baron 
was  not  indisposed  to  question  the  landlord,  a  ser- 
vile, pock-marked  dwarf,  whose  dress  was  of  the 
same  brown  color  as  the  woodwork  in  his  taproom, 
concerning  the  tree  with  its  strange  decorations; 
but  he  refrained,  for  at  a  table  some  distance  from 
his  sat  two  burghers  of  Leyden,  one  of  whom  was 
well  known  to  him,  and  he  had  no  desire  to  pick  a 
quarrel  in  such  a  place  as  this. 

When  Nicolas  had  taken  a  survey  of  the  room, 
he  touched  his  father  and  said  in  a  low  voice : 

"  Did  you  notice  the  men  over  there  ?  The 
younger  one — he  is  just  lifting  the  cover  of  the 
tankard — is  the  organist  who  rescued  me  from  the 
boys  yesterday  and  lent  me  his  cloak." 

"  That  one  there  ?  A  handsome  young  fellow.  He 
might  be  taken  for  a  painter  or  something  of  that 
sort.  Here,  landlord,  who  is  the  gentleman  with 
the  brown  hair  and  large  eyes,  talking  with  Herr 
AUertssohn,  the  fencing  master  V 

"  It  is  Herr  Wilhelm,  with  your  gracious  lord- 
ship's permission,  the  younger  son  of  the  collector 
of  taxes,  Herr  Cornelius,  a  player  or  a  musician,  as 
they  call  it." 

''  Yes,  yes,"  cried  the  baron.  "  His  father  is  one 
of  ray  old  Leyden  acquaintances.  He  was  a  brave 
and  most  worthy  man  before  this  craze  for  liberty 
turned  the  peoj)le's  heads.  The  young  man,  too,  has 
a  face  tiuit  is  good  to  look  at.  There  is  something 
pure  about  it — something — -it  is  hard  to  tell  what — 
what  do  you  think,  Nico  ?  Does  he  not  look  like  our 
holy  Saint  Sebastian  ?  Shall  I  speak  to  him  and 
thank  him  for  his  kindness  V 

The  baron  did  not  await  the  answer  of  his  son, 


54  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

whom  he  was  fond  of  treating  as  a  friend  and  equal 
in  age,  but  rose  to  express  his  kindly  feeling  toward 
the  musician ;  this  laudable  purpose,  however, 
received  an  unexpected  check. 

The  man  whom  the  baron  had  called  Allertssohn 
had  just  noticed  that  the  Glippers'  cloaks  were  hang- 
ing before  the  tire,  while  his  own  and  his  friend's  had 
been  flung  upon  a  bench.  This  fact  seemed  to  annoy 
the  Leydener  deeply,  for  as  the  baron  rose  he  pushed 
his  chair  back  violently,  bent  his  sturdy  body 
forward,  leaned  his  arms  on  the  table  before  him, 
and  turned  his  martial  face  from  the  landlord  to  the 
nobleman  and  back  again.  At  last  he  cried  in  a 
loud  voice : 

"Peter  Quatgelat  —  you  —  you  — if  you  — you 
wretched  hunchback,  who  gave  you — who  gave  you 
the  right  to  throw  our  cloaks  into  the  corner  ?" 

"  Yours,  captain,"  stammered  the  host,  "  were 
already " 

"  Hold  your  tongue,  cur !"  thundered  the  other  in 
so  loud  a  voice  and  with  such  excitement  tiiat  the 
flowing  gray  mustache  on  his  upper  lip  shook,  and 
the  long,  thick  beard  on  his  chin  trembled.  "  Plold 
your  tongue  !  We  know  better.  Gottes  Bonner ! 
You  truckle  to  noblemen's  cloaks  here !  They  are 
of  Spanish  cut.  They  look  well  on  a  Glipper  !  Good 
Dutch  cloth  is  flung  into  a  corner.  Oho,  oho, 
brother  Crooked-legs,  we'll  settle  you !" 

"  I  beg  you,  most  noble  captain " 

"  I  spit  upon  your  '  most  noble,' you  most  ignoble, 
you  arch  scoundrel !  First  come,  first  served  ;  it  is 
always  so  in  Holland  and  always  has  been  since  the 
days  of  Adam  and  Eve.  Listen  well, Crooked-legs! 
If  my  'most  noble'  cloak  and  Ilerr  Wilhelm's  are 
not  hanging  in  their  old  places  before  1  count 
twenty,  something  will  happen  that  will  not  be  to 
your  taste.     One — two — three " 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  55 

The  landlord  cast  a  fearful,  questioning  glance  at 
the  nobleman,  and  as  the  latter  shrugged  his  shoul- 
ders and  said  audibly :  "  There  is  surely  room  for 
more  than  two  cloaks  before  the  lire/'  Quatgelat 
took  the  Leydeners'  mantles  from  the  bench,  and 
hung  them  on  two  chairs  that  he  had  drawn  up 
to  the  fire. 

While  this  was  being:  done  the  fencinfr-master 
slowly  continued  his  counting.  When  he  reached 
twenty,  the  landlord  had  completed  his  task,  but  the 
angry  captain  still  gave  him  no  peace,  but  said  : 

"  Our  reckoning  now,  man.  Wind  and  rain  are 
not  good  company,  but  1  know  of  worse.  There  is 
room  enough  at  the  fire  for  four  cloaks,  and  in  Hol- 
land for  all  the  animals  in  jSToah's  ark  except  Span- 
iards and  the  friends  of  Spaniards.  The  devil!  it  has 
stirred  up  all  the  gall  in  my  liver.  Follow  me  to 
the  horses,  Herr  Wilhelm,  or  there'll  be  trouble." 

With  these  last  words,  the  fencing-master  turned 
his  starting  eyes  angrily  upon  the  nobleman. 

The  latter  appeared  not  to  have  heard  the  chal- 
lenging words,  and  as  the  fencing-master  left  the 
room  he  approached  the  musician  unconcernedl}^, 
with  head  erect,  and  bowing  courteously  to  him, 
thanked  him  for  the  kindness  he  had  shown  his  son 
the  day  before. 

"  You  are  reall}'  not  indebted  to  me,"  answered 
Wilhelm  Corneliussohn.  "I  went  to  your  son's  rescue 
because  it  does  not  look  well  for  a  number  to  attack 


one." 


"Then  permit  me  to  express  my  approval  of  this 
opinion,"  said  the  baron. 

"  Opinion,"  repeated  the  musician  with  a  slight 
smile,  beginning  to  draw  a  few  notes  on  the  table. 

For  awhile  the  baron  watched  in  silence  the  mov- 
ing fingers.  Then  going  closer  to  the  young  man, 
he  asked : 


56  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"  ]\[ust  political  differences  enter  into  every  tiling  ?" 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  other  eniphaticall}",  and 
turning  quickly  toward  the  older  man.  "  Jn  these 
times,  yes,  a  thousand  times  yes.  You  are  not  wise 
to  speaic  to  me  of  oi)inions,  llerr  Matenesse." 

"Every  man,"  answered  the  nobleman  with  a 
shrug,  "  has  his  own  opinions  and  thinks  them  the 
right  ones,  but  he  ought  to  respect  those  of  others." 

"  My  lord,"  broke  in  the  musician,  "  in  these  days 
there  can  be  but  one  opinion  among  us.  Any  man 
who  is  of  Dutch  blood  and  thinks  differently  from 
us,  I  wish  to  have  naught  to  do  with,  not  even  to 
drink  at  the  same  table  with  him.  Pardon  me,  my 
lord  ;  my  traveling  companion  has  a  hot  temper,  as 
you  have  unfortunately  learned,  and  does  not  like 
to  be  kept  waiting." 

Wilhelm  bowed  slightly,  approached  the  fireplace, 
took  his  and  his  companion's  half-dried  cloaks  over 
his  arm,  ffung  a  coin  on  the  counter,  took  up  a 
covered  cage  tilled  with  fluttering  birds,  and  left  the 
room. 

The  baron  looked  after  him  in  silence.  The 
plain  words  and  the  young  man's  departure 
awakened  painful  sensations  in  his  breast.  He  be- 
lieved that  he  wished  for  what  was  right,  but  at 
that  moment  he  felt  that  a  stain  rested  on  the  cause 
he  supported. 

One  can  bear  to  be  pursued  better  than  to  be 
avoided,  and  an  expression  of  deep  annoyance 
rested  on  the  nobleman's  kindly  features  as  he  re- 
turned to  his  son. 

Nicolas  had  heard  every  word  the  organist  had 
said,  and  the  blood  left  his  ruddy  cheeks  as  he  saw 
how  this  man,  whose  whole  appearance  had 
especially  attracted  him,  turned  his  back  upon  his 
father  as  upon  a  criminal  to  be  avoided. 

The  words  with  which  Janus  Dousa  had  left  him. 


TEE  BURGOMAbTER'S  WIFE.  57 

the  day  before  recurred  to  him  with  greater  force, 
and  when  the  baron  was  once  more  seated  opposite 
him,  tlie  boy  raised  his  e\'es  and  said  hesitatingly, 
but  with  touching  earnestness  and  frank   concern  : 

"Father,  what  did  he  mean?  Father — are  they 
so  yery  wrong  in  preferring  to  be  JJutch  ratlier 
than  Spanish  ?" 

Wibisma  looked  with  surjH'ise  and  disapproval  at 
his  son,  and  because  he  had  for  a  moment  felt  his 
own  convictions  waver,  and  a  blustering  word  is 
often  of  use  where  there  is  inability  or  disinclina- 
tion to  contend  with  argument,  he  spoke  more 
sharply  to  him  than  he  had  spoken  for  years. 

"  Are  you,  too,  beginning  to  relish  the  bait  with 
which  Orange  lures  on  the  simpletons?  Another 
such  word  and  I  will  show  you  how  impertinent 
boys  are  treated.  Here,  landlord  :  what  does  that 
foolery  on  that  tree  there  mean?" 

"The  burghers,  my. lord,  the  Leyden  fools  are  to 
blame  for  the  mischief,  your  grace,  not  I.  When 
the  soldiers  who  had  been  in  the  city  during  the 
siege  went  off,  they  decked  the  tree  in  that  shame- 
ful fashion.  I  keep  this  house  as  a  tenant  of  the 
elder  Herr  van  der  Does,  and  can  have  no  opinion 
of  my  own,  for  a  man  must  live,  but  as  truly  as  I 
hope  to  die  in  peace,  I  am  loyal  to  King  Philip." 

"  Until  the  Leydeners  come  out  here  again," 
answered  Wibisma  bitterly.  "  Did  you  keep  open 
house  during  the  siege  ?" 

"  Yes,  my  lord  ;  their  lordships,  the  Spaniards, 
had  nothing  to  complain  of  in  me,  and  if  a  poor 
man's  services  are  not  too  humble,  my  gracious 
lord,  they  are  at  your  disposal." 

"So,  so!"  muttered  the  baron  and  looked  atten- 
tively at  the  ill-favored  features  of  the  host,  whose 
small  eyes  glittered  with  cunning.  Then  he  turned 
to  JS^icolas  and  said: 


58  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"  Go  and  look  at  the  blackbirds  there  in  the 
window  for  awhile,  my  son.  I  have  something  to 
say  to  the  landlord." 

The  lad  rose  at  once  and  as,  instead  of  looking  at 
the  birds,  he  stared  after  the  two  enthusiastic  sup- 
porters of  Holland's  liberty,  who  were  riding  along 
the  road  that  led  to  Delft,  he  thought  of  what 
Janus  Dousa  had  said  of  the  chains  that  drag  men 
down,  and  then  he  thought  of  the  golden  chain,  the 
mark  of  honor,  that  King  Philip  had  sent  his  father. 
Involiintarily,  Xicolas  looked  toward  the  baron. 
He  was  standing  whispering  earnestly  with  the 
landlord.  Now^  he  even  laid  his  hand  upon  his 
shoulder.  Was  it  right  in  him  to  treat  thus  a  man 
whom  he  must  despise  from  the  bottom  of  his 
heart?  Or  was  he — he  shuddered  as  he  remem- 
bered the  word  "  traitor,"  which  one  of  the  boys 
had  shouted  in  his  ear  during  the  tight  before  the 
church. 

AVhen  the  rain  moderated  the  travelers  left  the 
tavern.  The  baron  permitted  the  repulsive  host  to 
kiss  his  hand  at  parting,  but  the  lad  would  not 
suffer  him  to  touch  his. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  ride  to  the  Hague 
few  words  were  exchanged  between  father  and  son. 

The  musician  and  the  fencing-master  'were  less 
silent  on  their  way  to  Delft. 

Wilhelm  had  remonstrated  mildly  with  the  other 
for  having  given  too  violent  expression  to  his  feel- 
ings toward  the  nobleman. 

"  Right,  quite  right,"  answered  Allertssohn,  whom 
his  friends  called  "  AUerts"  for  short.  "  Quite 
right!  My  hot  blood— oh,  my  hot  blood!  You 
have  no  idea,  Herr  Wilhelm —     But  let  it  pass." 

"  No,  speak  on,  meister." 

"  You  will  not  think  better  of  me,  if  I  do." 

"  Well  then,  let  us  talk  of  other  things." 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  59 

"  No,  Wilhelm,  I  have  no  reason  for  being 
ashamed  of  it  exactly,  for  no  one  will  call  me  a 
coward.'' 

The  musician  laughed  as  he  exclaimed :  "You  a 
coward  !  IIow  many  Spaniards  has  your  Brescian 
sword  there  struck  down  V 

"  Run  through,  sir;  run  through  far  oftenerthan 
struck  down,"  answered  the  other.  "If  the  devil 
calls  me  out,  I  shall  ask  him :  '  Foils,  sir,  or  Spanish 
swords  V  But  there  is  one  of  whom  I  am  afraid  ;  he 
is  my  best  friend  and  at  the  same  time  my  worst 
enemy  ;  he  is  a  Netherlander  like  yourself;  he  is,  in 
short,'  he  is  the  man  who  rides  beside  you.  Yes, 
when  rage  seizes  me,  when  my  beard  begins  to 
tremble,  the  little  sense  I  have  leaves  me  as  rapidly 
as  your  doves  do  you  when  you  let  them  loose.  You 
do  not  know  me,  Wilhelm." 

"  Do  I  not  ?  How  often  must  one  see  you  in 
command  and  visit  you  at  the  fencing-school?" 

"  Tut,  tut — I  am  as  calm  then  as  the  water  in 
that  canal  yonder — but  when  anything  goes  against 
my  sense  of  right,  when — but  how  am  I  to  tell  you 
concisely,  without  an  illustration " 

"  Go  on." 

"  Well,  for  instance,  when  I  have  to  look  on  and 
see  a  toady  treated  as  though  he  were  Sir 
Upright " 

"  It  makes  you  very  indignant." 

"  Indignant !  No.  I  grow  as  fierce  as  a  tiger 
and  I  must  not,  I  must  not.  Roland,  my  fore  man, 
may  very  well " 

"Meister,  meister,  your  beard  is  beginning  to 
tremble  already." 

"  What  were  the  Glippers  thinking  when  they 
bad  their  '  noble'  cloaks " 

"  The  landlord  took  yours  and  mine  from  the  fire 
of  his  own  accord." 


60  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"That  may  be!  But  the  weak-kneed  ape  did  it 
to  honor  the  Spanish  toad-eater.  It  galled  rae.  I 
could  not  let  it  pass." 

"  Nor  did  you  keep  your  anger  to  yourself,  and 
it  surprised  me  to  see  how  patiently  tlie  baron  took 
your  abuse." 

"That's  just  it!"  cried  the  fencing-master,  and 
his  beard  began  to  quiver  ominously.  "  That's 
what  drove  me  from  the  tavern,  that's  why  1  tied 
from  myself.     That — that — lioland,  my  fore  man  !" 

"  1  do  not  understand  you." 

"  You  do  not  ?  How  should  jon  ;  but  I  will  ex- 
plain to  you.  When  you  are  as  old  as  I  am,  young 
man,  you  will  find  it  out  too.  There  are  few  per- 
fectlv  sound  trees  in  a  forest,  few  horses  without 
defect,  few  swords  without  blemish,  and  there's 
scarcely  a  man  who  has  passed  forty  and  has  not 
some  worm  gnawing  at  his  heart.  Some  gnaw 
quietly,  others  more  sharply,  and  mine — mine — Do 
you  want  to  take  a  look  here  into  my  heart  ^" 

The  fencing-master  struck  his  broad  breast  as  he 
spoke  and  went  on  excitedly,  witiiout  waiting  for 
his  companion's  reply : 

"  You  know  me  and  my  life,  Herr  Wilhelm. 
My  calling  is  a  knightly  one.  My  life  is  based  upon 
the  sword.  Do  you  know  a  better  blade  or  a  surer 
hand  than  mine  ?  Do  my  soldiers  obey  me?  Have 
I  spared  my  blood  in  battle  before  the  red  walls 
and  towers  behind  us?  No!  by  my  fore  man, 
Roland,  no,  a  thousand  times,  no  !" 

"  Who  denies  it,  Meister  Allerts  ?  But  tell  me, 
what  do  you  mean  by  your  cry  :  'Roland,  m}^  fore 
man  ?" 

"  Another  time,  Wilhelm  ;  you  must  not  interrupt 
me  now.  Listen  instead  while  I  tell  you  where  the 
worm  gnaws.  I  repeat  then  :  my  calling  is  a 
knightly  one,  and  yet,  if  when  a  man  like  Wibisma, 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  61 

who  learned  from  my  father  how  to  use  a  sword, 
treats  me  cavalierly  and  arouses  my  anger,  I  were 
to  assume  mv  rio^hts  and  challeno-e  him,  what  would 
he  do  'i  lie  would  laugh  and  ask  :  '  What  will  the 
bout  cost,  llerr  Fencing-Master  Allerts  ?  Have  yot* 
sharpened  rapiers  also  V  Perhaps  he  would  say 
nothing  at  all — we  have  just  seen  how  he  bore  him- 
self awhile  ago.  His  glance  slipped  by  me  like  an 
eel  and  he  had  wax  in  his  ears.  Whether  I  rail  at 
him  or  a  cur  bark  at  him,  is  all  the  same  to  him. 
But  if  a  Renneberg  or  a  Brederode  had  been  in  my 
place  how  quickly  Wibisma  would  have  drawn  his 
sword  from  its  sheath,  for  he  knows  how  to  fight 
and  is  no  coward.  But  I — I  ?  No  one  likes  to  be 
struck  in  the  face,  and,  as  truly  as  my  father  was  a 
brave  man,  the  deepest  insult  is  easier  to  bear  than 
the  feeling  that  one  is  esteemed  too  low  to  be  able 
to  offer  an  insult.  You  see,  Wilhelm,  when  the 
Glipper  looked  past  me " 

"  The  beard  lost  its  composure." 

"  It  is  all  very  well  for  you  to  jest,  you  do  not 
know " 

"  But  I  do,  Herr  Allerts  ;  I  quite  understand." 

"And  you  also  understand  why  I  tookm^/self  and 
my  sword  outside  so  quickly  V 

"  Thoroughly  ;  but  stop  a  moment.  The  pigeons 
are  fluttering  so  that  they  must  need  air." 

The  fencing-master  brought  his  horse  to  a  stand- 
still, and  as  Wilhelm  lifted  the  dripping  cloth  from 
the  cage  that  rested  before  him  on  the  horse's  neck 
asked  : 

"  How  can  a  man  put  up  with  such  tame 
creatures  ?  If  you  wish  to  steal  time  from  your 
music  to  give  to  feathered  folk,  why  not  tame 
falcons?  It  is  a  knightly  craft  and  one  that  I  can 
teach  you." 

"  Leave  my  pigeons  in  peace,"  answered  Wilhelm. 


62  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"  They  are  not  as  insignificant  as  you  think,  and  in 
many'  a  war,  which  is  surely  a  knightly  pastime, 
they  have  proved  useful.  Remember  Haarlem.  It 
'  is  beginning  to  rain  again.  I  wish  my  cloak  were 
not  so  short ;  I  would  like  to  spread  it  over  the 
pigeons." 

^  Truly  you  look  like  Goliath  in  David's  cloak." 

"  It  is  my  scholar's  cloak  ;  my  other  one  1  gave  to 
young  Wibisma  yesterday." 

"  The  Spanish  green-finch  ?" 

"  I  have  already  told  you  of  the  braw^l  between 
the  boys." 

"•  True,  true.  And  the  young  fool  has  kept  your 
cloak  ?" 

"  You  came  for  me  and  would  not  w^ait.  They 
doubtless  returned  it  shortly  after  our  departure," 

'^  And  their  gracious  lordships  expect  your  thanks 
because  the  young  noble  accepted  it !" 

"^'^o,  no  ;  the  baron  expressed  his  thanks  to  rae." 

"  But  they  won't  make  3'our  cape  any  longer. 
Take  my  cloak,  Wilhelm.  I  have  no  pigeons  to 
shelter,  and  my  skin  is  thicker  than  yours." 


TEE  BUBGOMASTEB'8  WIFE.  t33 


CHAPTEE  YII. 

The  first  stormy  day  was  followed  by  a  second 
and  a  third. 

Whitish  mist  and  gray  fog  hung  over  the  meadows. 
The  cold,  damp  northwest  wind  drove  the  heavy 
clouds  together  and  darkened  the  sky.  From  the 
leads  on  the  steep  roofs  of  Leyden,  tiny  rivulets 
rushed  into  the  streets  below.  The  water  in  the 
canals  and  ditches  grew  turbid  and  rose  to  the  edge 
of  the  banks.  Dripping  and  freezing  men  and 
women  hurried  past  each  other  without  greeting, 
while  the  two  storks  pressed  closer  to  each  other  in 
the  nest  and  thought  of  the  warm  south,  regretting 
their  premature  return  to  the  cold  and  damp  plains 
of  the  Netherlands. 

In  anxious  minds  increased  the  dread  of  what 
must  come.  The  rain  caused  fear  to  spring  up  in 
the  hearts  of  many  burgliers  as  rapidly  as  it  caused 
the  young  grain  to  grow  in  the  fields.  In  many  a 
taproom  were  held  conversations  that  sounded  any- 
thing but  hopeful — in  others  men  inveighed  against 
resistance  as  folly,  or  loudly  demanded  the  deser- 
tion of  the  Prince  of  Orange  and  of  freedom. 

Whoever  wished  to  find  a  happy  face  in  Leyden 
in  these  days  would  have  sought  long  in  vain,  and 
last  of  all  could  he  hope  to  find  it  in  the  house  of 
Burgomaster  van  der  Werff. 

Three  days  had  elapsed  since  the  departure  of 
Herr  Peter;  indeed  the  fourth  was  half  gone,  and 
the  burgomaster  had  not  yet  returned,  nor  had  hif^ 


64  TEE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

household  received  any  message,  any  word  of  ex- 
planation. 

Frau  Maria  had  donned  her  gown  of  pale  blue 
cloth  cut  square  in  the  neck  and  adorned  with 
Mechlin  lace,  for  her  husband  especially  liked  to 
see  her  in  this  gown,  and  he  would  surely  return 
to-day. 

The  spray  of  yellow  wall-flower  at  her  breast  she 
had  cut  from  the  blossoming  plant  in  her  bedroom 
Avindow,  and  Barbara  had  helped  her  in  arranging 
her  heavy  hair. 

It  still  lacked  an  hour  of  noon  when  the  young 
wife  entered  her  husband's  room  with  a  white  dust 
cloth  in  her  hand.  She  went  first  to  the  window 
down  which  the  streaming  rain  dripped  in  countless, 
writhing,  snakelike  lines,  pressed  lier  forehead  to 
the  glass  and  looked  out  into  the  deserted  street. 

The  water  stood  between  the  smooth  red  bricks 
of  the  pavement.  A  .porter  clattered  b}^  in  heavy 
wooden  shoes,  a  maid-servant  hurried  along  wrapped 
in  her  hooded  cloak,  a  cobbler's  apprentice  witli  a 
pair  of  high  boots  slung  across  his  slioulder  sprang 
from  puddle  to  puddle  and  carefully  avoided  the 
dry  places;  no  horseman  appeared. 

It  was  almost  supernaturall}^  still  in  the  house 
and  in  the  street;  she  could  hear  nothing  but  the 
splashing  of  the  rain.  Until  the  sound  of  hools 
made  itself  heard  Maria  could  not  expect  her 
husband ;  nor  did  she  look  into  the  distance,  but 
gazed  dreamily  into  the  street  and  at  the  ceaseless 
rain. 

The  room  was  carefully  heated  for  the  master's 
return,  but  Maria  felt  a  cold  draught  through  the 
window  cracks.  She  shivered,  and  as  she  drew 
back  into  the  dusky  room  it  seemed  to  her  as  though 
it  must  always  be  gloomy  like  this  and  that  no 
bright  days  could  ever  come  again. 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  65 

Minutes  passed  before  she  remembered  the  pur- 
pose that  had  brought  her  here.  She  began  to  dust 
the  writing  table,  the  piled-up  papers,  and  the 
other  objects  in  the  room.  At  hist  she  came  to  the 
pistols,  which  Peter  had  not  taken  with  him  on  his 
journey. 

Above  the  weapons  hung  the  picture  of  her  hus- 
band's first  wife.  The  picture  was  in  far  greater 
need  of  dusting  than  the  pistols,  for  until  now  Maria 
had  always  avoided  touching  it. 

To-day  she  plucked  up  courage,  placed  herself 
before  it,  and  looked  steadfastly  at  the  youthful 
features  of  the  woman  with  whom  Peter  had  been 
happy.  She  was  fascinated  by  the  brown  eyes  that 
looked  out  at  her  from  the  pleasant  face. 

Yes,  the  woman  up  there  looked  happy — almost 
insolently  happy. 

How  much  more  had  Peter  given  to  his  first  wife 
than  to  iier  ? 

Tills  thought  cut  her  to  the  quick,  and  without 
moving  her  lips  she  addressed  a  succession  of  ques- 
tions to  the  silent  portrait,  which  continued  to  look 
down  serenely  and  confidently  at  her  from  its  plain 
frame. 

Once  it  seemed  as  though  the  full  lips  quivered. 
Once  it  seemed  as  though  the  eyes  moved.  A  cold 
shudder  passed  over  Maria;  she  began  to  be  afraid, 
but  she  could  not  tear  herself  from  the  picture. 

She  gazed  ujiward  with  wide-open  eyes. 

Slie  did  not  stir,  and  her  breath  came  faster. 

Then  her  glance  grew  more  intent. 

On  tlie  dead  wile's  brow  lay  a  shadow. 

Had  the  painter  meant  to  indicate  some  care  that 
was  pressing  upon  her,  or  was  what  she  saw  only 
dust  that  had  settled  upon  the  canvas? 

She  drew  a  chair  toward  the  picture  and  set  her 
foot  upon  the  seat.     Her  skirt  pulled  up  as  she  did 


06  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

so.  Blushing,  as  though  other  than  painted  eyes 
were  looking  upon  her,  she  drew  it  down  over  the 
white  stocking,  and  then  with  a  rapid  movement 
iivounted  tlie  chair. 

She  now  stood  face  to  face  w^ith  the  picture.  The 
cloth  in  Maria's  trembling  hand  passed  over  Eva's 
forehead  and  brushed  the  shadow  from  the  rosy 
skin.  Then  she  wiped  the  dust  from  the  frame  and 
from  the  canvas  and  noticed  the  signature  of  the 
artist  to  whom  the  picture  owed  its  origin.  "Artjen 
of  Leyden,"  he  called  himself,  and  his  careful  hand 
had  painstakingly  reproduced  even  the  smallest  de- 
tails. The  silver  chain  with  the  blue  turquoises  on 
the  round  neck  she  knew  well.  Peter  had  given 
this  same  chain  to  her  as  a  wedding  gift,  and  she 
had  worn  it  to  the  altar,  but  the  little  diamond  cross 
that  hung  from  it  she  had  never  seen.  The  gold 
buckle  at  Eva's  belt  had  been  hers  since  her  last 
birthday,  but  it  was  badly  bent  and  the  blunt  points 
could  with  difficult}^  pierce  the  heavy  ribbon. 

"  She  had  every  tiling  wliile  it  was  new,"  she  said 
to  herself.  "  The  ornaments !  What  do  I  care  for 
them!  But  the  heart,  the  heart — how  much  love 
has  she  left  for  me  in  Peter's  heart?" 

Against  her  will  these  words  kej)t  echoing  in  her 
mind,  and  she  was  forced  to  summon  all  her  strength 
to  keep  from  crying. 

"  If  he  would  only  come,  if  he  would  only  come !" 
was  the  cry  of  her  sorely  troubled  soul. 

The  door  opened  un})erceived  by  her. 

Barbara  entered,  and  spoke  her  name  softly  and 
with  kindly  reproach. 

Maria  started,  and  Hushing  said: 

"  Please  give  me  vour  hand.    I  wish  to  get  down. 

have  just  finished.  The  dust  was  something  dis- 
graceful." 

When  she  was  again  standing  on  the  floor  the 
widow  said  to  her :  # 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  67 

"  How  red  your  cheeks  are !  Listen,  dear  child, 
listen  to  rae !" 

Barbara  was  interrupted  in  the  midst  of  her 
reproof,  for  the  knocker  sounded  loudly  at  the  front 
door  and  Maria  hastened  to  the  window. 

The  widow  followed  her,  and  after  a  hasty  glance 
into  the  street  cried  : 

"  It  is  Wilhelm  Corneliussohn,  the  musician.  He 
has  been  to  Delft.  His  mother  told  me  so.  Per- 
haps he  brings  news  of  Peter.  I  Avill  send  him  up 
to  you,  but  he  must  first  tell  me  downstairs  wliat 
news  he  brings.  If  you  need  me  you  will  find  me 
with  Lieschen.  She  is  hot  and  her  eyes  pain  her,  I 
am  afraid  she  is  going  to  have  a  fever." 

Barbara  left  the  room.  Maria  pressed  her  hands 
to  her  burning  cheeks  and  walked  slowly  back  and 
forth  until  there  came  a  knock  and  the  musician 
entered. 

After  the  first  greetings,  the  young  wife  asked 
eagerly : 

"  And  did  you  see  ray  husband  in  Delft?" 

"  Yes,  Frau  Biirgeraeisterin,"  answered  "Wilhelm, 
"  night  before  last." 

"  Then  tell  me " 

"  At  once,  at  once  !  I  bring  you  a  whole  budget 
of  messages.    First  from  vour  lady  mother." 

•'Is  she  well?" 

"Well  and  cheerful.  "Worthy  Doctor  Groot  is 
also  hale  and  hearty." 

"  And  my  husband  ?" 

"I  found  hiin  w^ith  the  doctor.  Doctor  Groot 
sends  all  sorts  of  kind  messages  to  you.  Yesterday 
and  the  day  before  we  had  music  at  his  house.  He 
always  has  the  latest  things  from  Italy,  and  when 
we  try  this  motet  here " 

"  Later,  Herr  Wilhelm.  Tell  me  first  what  my 
husband " 


68  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"  The  Ilerr  Biirgemeister  came  to  the  doctor  witli 
a  commission  from  the  prince.  He  was  in  a  hurry 
and  could  not  wait  for  the  singing.  It  went  finely. 
You  need  have  no  concern  about  the  tableture. -"  I  f 
you,  with  your  magnificent  voice  will  only " 

"  1  beg  of  you,  Ilerr  Wilhelm " 

"  No,  my  dear  lady,  you  must  not  refuse.  Ilerr 
Groot  says  that  as  a  girl  you  sang  the  soprano 
parts  as  no  one  else  could,  and  if  you  and  Fran 
von  Nordwyk  and  Ilerr  van  Aken's  eldest 
daughter " 

"  But  my  dear  Ilerr  Wilhelm,"  cried  the  burgo- 
master's wife  with  growing  impatience,  "I  am  not 
asking  now  about  your  motets  and  tabletures  but 
about  my  husband." 

Wilhelm  looked,  half  amazed,  half  alarmed,  into 
the  young  wife's  face.  Then  smiling  at  his  lack  of 
tact,  he  shook  his  head  and  said  with  good-natured 
contrition  : 

"  Forgive  rae,  please;  it  is  often  true  that  even 
little  things  seem  all  important  to  us  when  our  souls 
are  filled  with  them.  To  your  ears,  a  word  about 
your  absent  husband  must  sound  sweeter  than  all 
my  music.  I  ought  to  have  remembered  it  sooner. 
AVell  then  ;  the  biirgemeister  is  well  and  has  con- 
ferred much  with  the  prince.  Before  he  left  for 
Dortrecht  yesterday  morning  he  gave  me  this  letter 
for  you  and  commissioned  me  to  place  it  in  your 
hands  with  most  affectionate  greetings." 

Tiie  musician  handed  a  letter  to  Maria.  She 
took  it  quickly  and  said  : 

"  Do  not  be  vexed,  Ilerr  Wilhelm,  but  we  will 
talk  about  your  motet  to-morrow  or  whenever  you 
wish  :  but  to-dav " 

*  An  ancient  mode  of  indicating  musical  sounds  by  letters 
instead  of  notes. 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  69 

"  To-day  you  must  give  your  time  to  this  letter," 
interrupted  Wiliiehn.  "  It  is  only  natural.  The 
messenger  has  fullilled  his  commission  and  the 
musician  will  try  his  fortune  with  his  music  another 
time,'- 

As  soon  as  the  young  man  had  taken  his  depar- 
ture Maria  retired  to  her  room,  seated  herself  at  her 
window,  hurriedly  opened  her  husband's  letter  and 
read : 

"  My  dear  and  faithful  Wife  :  Meister  Wilhelm 
Corneliussohn,  of  Leyden,  will  carr^^  this  letter  to 
you.  I  am  well,  but  it  was  hard  for  me  to  leave 
you  on  the  anniversary  of  our  wedding  day.  The 
w^eather  is  very  bad.  I  found  the  prince  in  deep 
distress,  but  we  do  not  give  up  hope,  and  if  the  good 
Lord  aids  us,  and  every  man  does  his  duty,  all  may 
yet  be  well.  I  must  go  to  Dortrecht  to-day.  What 
I  have  to  do  there  is  of  great  importance.  You 
must  be  patient,  for  it  may  be  many  days  before 
my  return. 

"  If  the  messenger  of  the  Council  comes,  give  him 
the  papers  that  lie  on  the  desk,  on  the  right-hand 
side,  under  the  smaller  weight.  Give  my  love  to 
Barbara  and  the  children.  If  you  need  money,  ask 
Yan  Ilout  in  my  name  for  the  balance  that  is  due 
me;  he  will  know.  If  you  are  lonely,  go  and  see 
his  wife  or  Frau  von  Nordwyk ;  they  would  be 
glad  to  see  you.  Buy  as  much  meal,  butter,  cheese, 
and  smoked  meat  as  is  possible.  One  cannot  tell 
what  may  come.  Let  Barbara  advise  you.  Rely- 
ing upon  your  obedience, 

"  Your  faithful  husband, 
"  Peter  Adkianssohn  van  der  Weeff." 

Maria  read  this  letter  rapidly  at  first,  then  a 
second  time  more  slowly,  sentence  by  sentence,  to 


70  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

the  end.  Disappointed,  troubled,  hurt,  she  folded 
it,  and  witliout  herself  knowing  why,  took  the 
spray  of  wall-flower  from  her  breast  and  tossed  it 
jiito  the  peat-basket  by  the  iireplace.  Then  she 
took  from  a  chest  a  pretty  carved  box,  ])hiced  it 
upon  the  table,  opened  it,  and  laid  within  it  her 
husband's  letter. 

Long  after  it  had  been  placed  with  other  papers 
Maria  stood  before  the  casket  and  gazed  thouglit- 
fully  at  its  contents. 

At  last  she  laid  her  hand  upon  the  lid  to  close  it, 
bu-t  she  hesitated,  and  took  up  a  bundle  of  letters 
that  la}"^  at  the  bottom  of  the  box,  together  with 
some  gold  and  silver  coins,  gifts  of  her  godfather 
and  godmother,  modest  trinkets,  and  a  withered 
rose. 

She  drew  a  chair  up  to  the  table,  seated  herself, 
and  began  to  read.  She  knew  the  letters  well.  A 
noble  and  promising  young  man  had  written  them 
to  her  sister,  his  affianced  wife.  They  were  written 
from  Jena,  where  he  had  gone  to  complete  his 
studies  in  jurisprudence.  In  every  word  spoke  the 
lovers  ardent  longing,  in  every  line  the  passion  that 
hail  filled  the  writer's  heart.  Often  the  lano-uao-e 
of  the  3'oung  scholar,  who,  as  a  student  under  Doctor 
Groot,  had  won  his  bride  in  Delft  wlien  she  was 
still  scarcely  more  than  a  child,  rose  to  a  lofty 
flight. 

As  Maria  read,  she  could  see  Jacoba's  sweet 
face,  and  the  handsome,  tlreamy  features  of  her 
husband.  She  remembered  their  joyous  wedding, 
lier  brother-in-law's  friend,  upon  whom  nature  liacl 
lavished  every  gift,  who  had  come  with  him  to  Hol- 
land as  his  groomsman,  and  who  on  leaving  had 
given  her  the  rose  that  lay  there  in  the  casket.  His 
voice  had  blended  with  hers  as  no  other  had,  from  no 
other  lips  had  she  ever  heard  such  poetic  language, 


TEE  B  URO0MA8TER  'S  WIFE.  71 

no  ej/es  as  lustrous  as  this  young  Thuringian  noble- 
man's had  ever  looked  into  hers. 

After  the  wedding  Georg  von  Dornburg  had 
returned  to  his  home  and  the  young  couple  had  gone 
to  Haarlem.  She  had  never  heard  anything  more 
of  the  stranger,  and  her  sister  and  her  husband  were 
soon  to  be  silenced  forever.  Like  the  majority  of 
the  inhabitants  of  that  noble  and  ill  fated  city,  they 
mst  their  death  at  the  hands  of  the  Spanish  cut- 
throats. Nothing  was  left  her  but  the  loving 
memory  of  her  beloved  sister  and  the  letters  that 
she  held  in  her  hand. 

In  them  spoke  love,  the  true,  exalted  love  that  can 
speak  with  the  tongues  of  angels  and  can  remove 
mountains. 

There  lay  her  husband's  letter.  Pitiful  little 
letter !  She  shrank  from  opening  it  again  as  she 
returned  the  precious  mementoes  to  the  box,  and  yet 
her  heart  rose  as  she  thought  of  Peter.  She  knew 
that  she  loved  him,  and  that  his  heart  belonged  to 
her.  But  she  was  not  satisfied,  she  was  not  happy, 
for  he  had  for  her  only  warm  affection  or  fatherly 
kindness,  and  she  wished  to  be  loved  in  a  very  dif 
ferent  way.  The  pupil,  even  the  friend,  of  the 
scholarly  Doctor  Grout ;  the  young  girl  who  had 
grown  up  in  association  with  learned  men  ;  tlie 
enthusiastic  lover  of  her  country  felt  that  she  was 
able  to  give  her  husband  far  more  than  he  asked  of 
her. 

Sentimental  emotions  and  extravagant  phrases 
she  had  never  expected  from  the  grave  man  engaged 
in  vigorous  action,  but  slie  did  expect  that  he  would 
understand  all  that  was  lofty  and  noble  in  her,  and 
that  he  would  allow  her  to  participate  in  his  strug- 
gles and  be  the  sharer  of  his  thoughts  and  feelings. 
That  things  were  very  different  was  shown  her 
again  by  the  meager  letter  she  had  received  to-day. 


t^  TIIK  BUnaOMASTEIl'S  WIFE. 

He  had  been  a  stanch  friend  of  her  dead  fatlien 
Tier  brother-in-law,  too,  had  attached  himself  with 
the  enthusiasm  of  youth,  to  the  older  and  inoi-e 
experienced  champion  of  liberty.  When  he  had 
spoken  of  Peter  to  JNfaria  it  had  always  been  in 
terms  of  the  warmest  admiration  and  affection. 
Soon  after  the  decease  of  her  father,  and  the  violent 
death  of  the  young  couple,  Peter  had  come  to  Delft, 
and  when  he  sympathized  with  her  and  strove  to 
c  ^fort  her,  it  was  in  strong,  tender  words  to  which 
she  could  cling  as  to  an  anchor,  in  the  anguish  of  her 
soul.  The  gallant  Levdener  came  more  and  more 
often  to  Delft  and  was  always  a  guest  at  the  Groots' 
house.  When  the  men  sat  together  in  consultation 
Maria  was  permitted  to  fill  their  glasses  and  to  be 
jiresent  at  their  deliberations.  Words  flew  back 
and  forth  and  often  seemed  to  her  to  be  neither 
clear  nor  wise  ;  but  what  Yan  der  Werff  said  was 
always  sensible  and  a  child  could  understand  his 
simple,  forcible  language.  lie  seemed  to  her  like 
an  oak  among  swaying  willows.  She  knew  of  many 
and  perilous  journeys  that  he  took  in  the  service  of 
the  prince  and  awaited  their  outcome  Avitli  a  beating 
heart, 

More  than  once  had  she  thought  of  how  sweet  it 
must  be  to  be  borne  through  life  in  the  strong  arms 
of  this  steadfast  man,  and  when  he  stretched  out 
these  arms  to  her  she  came  to  him  as  gladly  and 
proudly  as  a  squire  when  summoned  by  his  king  to 
receive  knightliood.  She  thought  of  that  bygone 
time,  and  every  hope  with  which  she  had  followed 
him  to  Leyden  rose  vividly  before  her. 

Her  bridegroom  h;i(l  promised  her  not  a  spring- 
time but  a  happy  summer  and  autumn  at  his  side. 
She  could  not  iielp  thinking  of  this  comparison  and 
of  how  very  different  from  what  she  had  expected 
her  life  with  him  had  been.     Tumult,  anxiety,  con- 


THB  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  73 

flict,  a  constant  alternation  of  hard  work  and  ex- 
haustion— this  was  the  life  to  which  he  had  called 
her  at  his  side,  without  even  showing  the  desire  to 
grant  her  a  share  in  his  cares  and  troubles.  Things 
must  not,  could  not  continue  as  they  were.  All 
that  had  seemed  beautiful  and  enjoyable  to  her  in 
her  parents'  house  was  wanting  here.  Music,  poetry 
that  had  elevated  her  soul,  intellectual  conversation 
that  had  developed  her  mind,  were  not  to  be  found 
in  her  new  home.  Barbara's  friendliness  could  never 
make  up  for  those  lost  pleasures  ;  for  her  husband's 
entire  love  she  would  have  relinquished  everything 
— but  what  had  become  of  this  love? 

With  these  bitter  feelings  she  replaced  the  casket 
in  the  chest  and  obeyed  the  summons  to  dinner.  At 
the  great  table  she  found  only  Adrian  and  the  serv- 
ants, for  Barbara  was  watching  beside  Lieschen. 

Never  had  she  seemed  to  herself  so  lonely,  so 
desolate,  so  useless  as  to-day.  Of  what  good  was 
she  here  ?  Barbara  presided  over  kitchen  and  cellar, 
and  she — she  only  stood  in  her  husband's  way  in 
the  fulfillment  of  his  duties  toward  city  and  state. 

These  were  her  thoughts  when  the  knocker  once 
more  sounded  at  the  door.  She  stepped  to  the 
window.  It  was  the  doctor.  Lieschen  had  grown 
worse  and  she,  her  mother,  had  not  even  asked 
about  the  little  one. 

"The  children,  the  children  !"  she  murmured  ;  her 
listless  features  grew  animated  and  her  heart  was 
lighter,  as  she  said  to  herself  : 

"  I  promised  Peter  to  care  for  them  as  though 
they  were  my  own,  and  I  will  be  true  to  what  I 
took  upon  myself." 

With  glad  emotion  she  went  to  the  darkened 
sick-room  and  closed  the  door  sharply  behind  her. 
Doctor  Boutins  looked  around  at  her  with  an  air  of 
reproofs  '^^^  Barbara  said  : 


74  TUE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"Gently,  gently!  Lieschen  has  just  fallen 
asleep,'- 

Maria    approached   the   bed.  but  the  physician 
motioned  her  away  and  asked  : 
^  "  Have  you  had  the  miliary  fever  ?'* 

"  No." 

"  Then  3'ou  must  not  come  into  the  room  again. 
No  other  help  is  needed  where  Frau  Barbara  is 
nurse." 

The  burgomaster's  wife  made  no  reply  and  went 
out  into  tlie  hall  again.  Her  heart  was  very  heavv. 
She  felt  like  a  stranger  in  her  husband's  house. 
Some  impulse  urged  her  to  go  out  of  doors,  and  when 
she  had  wrapped  her  cloak  about  her  and  was  de- 
scending the  stairs,  the  smell  of  leather  which  rose 
from  the  bales  in  the  storeroom  on  the  ground  floor 
seemed  to  her  intolerable,  although  she  had  scarcely 
noticed  it  before.  She  longed  to  be  back  with  her 
mother,  with  her  friends  in  Delft,  in  her  quiet,  airy 
home.  For  the  first  time  she  ventured  to  call  her- 
self unhappy,  and  as  she  walked  on  through  the 
streets  with  downcast  eyes  in  the  face  of  the  wind, 
she  struggled  vainly  against  a  dark,  mysterious 
power  that  forced  her  to  review  minutely  every- 
thing that  had  resulted  differently  from  her  expec- 
tations. 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  75 


CHAPTER  YIII. 

After  the  musician  bad  left  the  burgomaster's 
wife  he  betook  himself  to  the  house  of  young 
Matenesse  van  Wibisma's  aunt  to  get  his  cloak, 
which  had  not  been  returned  to  him.  He  was  not 
accustomed  to  think  much  about  his  dress,  but  he 
was  glad,  nevertheless,  that  the  rain  kept  people 
within  doors,  for  the  effect  of  the  outgrown  cape  on 
his  shoulders  was  far  from  pleasing.  Will] elm 
must  indeed  have  looked  as  if  he  were  in  anything 
but  affluent  circumstances,  for  as  he  entered  Friiu- 
lein  van  Hoogstraten's  spacious  and  stately  hall,  he 
was  received  by  the  house  steward,  Belotti,  as  con- 
descendingly as  though  he  were  a  beggar. 

The  Neopolitan,  in  whose  mouth  the  guttural 
Dutch  sounded  like  the  rasping  in  the  throat  of  a 
singer  with  a  cold,  soon  changed  his  tone,  however, 
when  Wilhelm  quietly  explained  in  good  Italian  the 
object  of  his  visit.  The  servant's  lofty  bearing 
melted  into  eager  welcome  before  the  beloved 
sound  of  his  mother  tongue.  He  began  to  talk  with 
Wilhelm  about  his  native  land,  but  the  musician 
gave  him  only  curt  replies  and  requested  him  a 
second  time  to  bring  him  his  cloak. 

Belotti  led  him  politely  to  a  cabinet  that  opened 
into  the  great  hall,  removed  his  cloak  for  him,  and 
went  upstairs.  As  minute  after  minute  and  finally 
a  whole  quarter  of  an  hour  passed  and  neither  serv- 
ant nor  cloak  appeared  the  young  man  began  to 
lose  his  patience,  and  the  leaded  panes  upon  which 


76  THE  BURGOMASTER* S  WIFE. 

his  fingers  were  drumming  loudly  were  threatened 
with  imminent  destruction,  when  the  door  opened. 
AVilhehii  was  conscious  of  it,  but  he  went  on  drum- 
ming with  redoubled  violence,  in  order  to  show  the 
Itahiin  very  phiinly  that  the  time  had  seemed  long 
to  him.  But  he  hastily  withdrew  his  fingers  from 
the  glass,  for  behind  him  a  musical,  girlish  voice 
said,  in  excellent  Dutch  : 

•'Have  you  finished  your  war-song,  mein  Uerr  P 
Belotti  is  bringing  your  cloak." 

Wilhelm  had  turned  and  was  looking,  confused 
and  speechless,  into  the  face  of  the  young  noble- 
woman who  stood  directly  in  front  of  him.  The 
features  were  not  unfamiliar  to  him,  and  j^et  years 
do  not  make  even  a  goddess  3'ounger,  and  the 
daughters  of  man  grow  taller  and  not  smaller  ;  but 
the  lady  whom  he  thought  to  see  before  him  and 
whom  he  had  known  well  in  Eome  and  had  never 
forgotten  had  been  older  and  taller  than  the  young 
girl  who  looked  so  strangely  like  her  and  Avho 
seemed  ill  pleased  by  his  astonished  and  searching 
gaze.  She  motioned  haughtily  to  the  steward  and 
said,  in  Italian : 

"  Give  this  gentleman  his  cloak,  Belotti,  and 
tell  hira  that  I  came  to  ask  his  pardon  for  your  for- 
getfulness," 

Henrika  van  Iloogstraten  turned  toward  the  door 
as  she  said  this,  but  Wilhelm  followed  her  with  a 
few  quick  strides,  exclaiming  : 

"  No,  no,  friiulein  !  It  is  for  me  to  apologize. 
But  if  you  have  ever  been  amazed  by  a  resem- 
blance  ■■' 

"Anything  but  to  look  like  other  people  I"  cried 
the  girl  with  a  gesture  of  protestation^ 

"Ah,  friiulein,  and  yet " 

"  Say  no  more  !"  interrupted  Henrika  with  such 
irritation  that  the  musician  looked  at  her  m  surprise. 


THE  BUEGOMASTEB'S  WIFE.  77 


i  i 


"  One  sheep  looks  like  another,  and  out  of  a  hundred 
peasants  twenty  have  faces  alike.  All  goods  by  the 
dozen  are  cheap." 

As  soon  as  Wilhelm  heard  some  reason  given  for 
her  anger,  he  recovered  his  usual  calm  bearing  and 
answered  quietly  : 

"But  nature  creates  the  most  beautiful  things  in 
pairs.     Remember  the  Madonna's  eyes." 

"  You  are  a  Catholic  ?" 

"  A  Calvinist,  fraulein." 

"  And  devoted  to  the  cause  of  the  prince?" 

"  Say  rather,  to  the  cause  of  liberty." 

"That  explains  your  drumming  the  war-song." 

"  It  was  a  quiet  gavotte  at  first,  but  impatience 
quickened  the  time.     I  am  a  musician,  fraulein." 

"  But  not  a  drummer,  I  presume.  The  poor 
window  panes !" 

"  They  are  an  instrument  like  any  other,  and 
in  playing  we  seek  to  express  what  we  feel." 

"  Let  me  thank  you  then,  for  not  having  broken 
the  panes  to  bits." 

"  That  would  have  been  an  ugly  thing  to  do, 
fraulein,  and  art  ceases  where  ugliness  begins." 

"  Do  you  think  that  the  song  that  was  concealed 
in  your  cloak — it  fell  out  and  Nico  picked  it  up — 
beautiful  or  ugly  ?" 

"  This  one  here  or  the  other  ?" 

"  The  "  Geusenlied,"  I  mean." 

"  It  is  wild,  but  no  more  unlovely  than  the  roar  of 
the  tempest." 

"  It  is  repulsive,  coarse  and  revolting." 

"  1  call  it  strong  and  masterful." 

"  And  the  other  melody  ?" 

"  Absolve  me  from  passing  judgment ;  1  com- 
posed it  myself.  You  know  how  to  read  music, 
fraulein  ?" 

"  A  little." 


78  TUE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"  And  were  you  displeased  with  ray  attempt  ?" 

"  Not  displensed,  but  I  find  mournful  passages  in 
this  choral  as  in  all  Calvinistic  hymns." 
^   '•  It  depends  upon  how  they  are  executed." 

"In  your  churches  they  are  intended  for  the 
voices  of  shopkeepers'  wives  and  washerwomen." 

"  Every  hymn,  if  it  is  only  sincerely  felt,  will  give 
wings  to  the  souls  of  the  simple  people  who  sing  it; 
and  whatever  rises  to  heaven  from  the  depths  of 
the  human  heart  cannot  be  ill  pleasing  to  the  dear 
God  to  whom  it  is  addressed.     And  then " 

"  Well  f ' 

"  If  this  anthem  is  worthy  of  being  preserved,  it 
may  be  that  a  matchless  choir " 

"  Will  sing  it  to  you,  you  mean  ?" 

"No,  friiulein  ;  it  has  fulfilled  its  destiny  if  it  is 
given  but  one  fine  rendering.  1  should  not  wish  to 
be  absent,  but  this  wish  is  secondary  to  the  other." 

"  How  modest !" 

"I  think  I  have  had  my  greatest  enjoyment 
beforehand  in  its  composition." 

Henrika  looked  sympathetically  at  the  artist  and 
said  in  a  gentler  tone  : 

"I  am  sorry  for  you.  Why  should  I  deny  that 
your  music  pleases  me  ?  It  appeals  to  the  heart  in 
many  passages,  but  how  it  will  be  distorted  in  your 
churches.  Your  heresy  destroys  all  art.  The 
works  of  the  great  masters  are  an  abomination  to 
vou,  and  it  will  be  no  better  with  the  noble  music 
that  has  sprung  up  here  in  the  Netherlands." 

"  I  venture  to  believe  the  contrary." 

"You  are  wrong,  wrong,  for  if  your  cause 
triumphs,  which  the  Virgin  forbid,  there  will  soon 
be  nothing  in  Holland  but  warehouses,  workshops, 
and  bare  meeting-houses  from  which  even  singing 
and  the  organ  will  be  banished  at  last." 

"  ^y  no  means,  friiulein.     Athens  ditl  not  become 


THE  BUROOMASFEB'S  WIFE,  79 

the  home  of  art  until  she  had  won  her  freedom  from 

the  Persians." 

"  Athens  and  Leyden  !"  she  answered  scornfully. 
"  There  are  owls  on  the  tower  of  Pancratius  to  be 
sure.     But  where  are  we  to  find  Minerva?" 

As  Henrika  spolie  these  words  laughingly,  her 
name  was  called  for  the  third  time  by  a  shrill  female 
voice.  She  broke  off  in  the  middle  of  a  sentence 
and  said : 

"  I  must  go.     I  will  keep  this  music." 

"  You  will  be  honoring  me  by  accepting  it,  and 
will  you  permit  me  to  bring  j^ou  more  V 

"  Henrika  !"  the  voice  again  called  from  the  stairs, 
and  the  young  girl  answered  quickly : 

"  You  may  give  Belotti  whatever  you  choose,  but 
soon,  for  I  shall  not  be  here  much  longer." 

Wilhelm  gazed  after  Henrika.  She  walked 
through  the  wide  hall  and  u])  the  stairs  no  less 
quickly  and  composedlv  than  she  had  spoken,  and 
again  he  thought  of  his  friend  in  Rome. 

The  old  Italian  hatl  also  followed  Henrika  with 
his  eyes.  When  she  had  disappeared  around  the 
last  turn  of  the  broad  staircase  he  shrugged  his 
shoulders,  turned  to  the  musician,  and  said  with  un- 
affected concern : 

"It  is  not  well  with  the  fraulein.  Always  in  a 
tumult,  always  like  a  loaded  pistol,  and  always 
these  terrible  headaches.  She  was  very  different 
when  she  came  here." 

"  The  fraulein  is  ill  ?" 

"  My  mistress  will  not  believe  it,"  answered  the 
servant.  "  But  what  we  see,  the  camarista  and  I, 
we  see.  Now  red,  now  white,  no  rest  at  night,  and 
hardly  a  wing  of  chicken  and  a  bit  of  salad  at 
dinner." 

"  Does  the  doctor  share  your  uneasiness  ?" 

"  The  doctor  I     Doctor  Fleuriel  is  no  longer  here. 


80  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

When  the  Spaniards  came  he  moved  to  Ghent,  and 
since  then  my  mistress  will  tolerate  no  one  but  the 
barber  who  bleeds  her.  The  doctors  here  are  all 
friendly  to  the  Prince  of  Orange,  anti  are  all  here- 
tics. There,  she  is  calling  again;  I  will  send  the 
cloak  to  your  house,  and  if  you  should  ever  feel 
inclined  to  speak  my  language,  just  knock  at  the 
door.  This  calling,  this  everlasting  calling!  It 
wears  upon  the  friiulein  too." 

When  Wilhelm  stepped  out  into  the  street  it  was 
raining  but  slightly.  The  clouds  had  begun  to 
scatter,  and  from  a  bit  of  blue  sky  the  sun  shone, 
bright  and  hot,  down  on  the  Kobelstrasse.  A  rain- 
bow shimmered  above  the  roofs,  but  the  musician 
had  no  eyes  for  the  beautiful  spectacle.  The  daz- 
zling light  in  the  wet  streets  did  not  gladden  him. 
The  glaring  rays  of  the  sun  could  last  but  a  short 
time,  for  they  were  "drawing  water."  All  that 
surrounded  him  seemed  unstable  and  confused. 
Beside  the  beautiful  picture  that  he  preserved  as  the 
most  sacred  of  his  recollections,  and  only  allowed 
his  thoughts  to  dwell  upon  in  his  happiest  moments, 
another  picture  was  forcing  itself.  His  real  jewel 
was  in  danger  of  being  exchanged  for  a  stone,  the 
value  of  which  he  did  not  know.  With  the  former 
perfect  harmony  mingled  disturbingly  another  in  a 
similar  but  different  key.  How  could  he  think  of 
Isabella  without  remembering  Henrika  ?  At  least, 
he  had  not  heard  the  3^oung  girl  sing,  and  so  the 
memory  of  Isabella's  songs  remained  undisturbed. 
He  blamed  himself  for  having  promised,  from  an 
impulse  of  vanity,  to  send  other  music  to  the 
haughty  young  lady  of  Spanish  sympathies.  Ho 
had  treated  Ilerr  Matenesse  van  Wibisma  rudelvou 
account  of  his  opinions,  but  upon  her  who  laughed 
at  ail  that  he  held  sacred,  he  was  ready  to  force 
himself,  because  she  was  a  woman,  and  it  was  sweet 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  81 

to  hear  one's  creations  praised  by  pretty  Jips. 
"  Hercules  flings  aside  his  club  and  seats  himself  at 
the  distaff  when  Omphale  beckons,  and  the  beauti- 
ful Esther,  and  Herod's  daughter-  •"  murmured 
Wilhelm  angrily  to  himself.  He  felt  deeply  dis- 
turbed and  betook  himself  to  his  quiet  little  gable- 
room  near  the  dove-cote. 

"Something-  unpleasant  must  have  happened  to 
him  in  Delft,"  thought  his  father. 

"Why  doesn't  he  relish  the  broiled  flounders  to- 
day?" wondered  his  mother,  as  they  sat  together  at 
dinner.  Each  felt  that  something  was  depressing 
the  darling  of  the  house,  but  neither  attempted  to 
inquire  into  the  why  or  wherefore,  for  both  knew 
the  moods  to  which  he  was  often  subject  for  half  a 
day  at  a  time. 

When  Wilhelm  had  fed  his  pigeons  he  returned 
to  his  room.  He  paced  restlessly  back  and  forth  at 
first ;  then  he  seized  his  violin  and  wove  together 
all  the  melodies  he  had  heard  from  Isabella's  lips. 
Seldom  had  his  playing  been  so  melting,  and  then 
again  so  wild  and  passionate,  and  his  mother,  who 
heard  him  from  the  kitchen,  turned  the  twirling- 
stick  more  and  more  rapidly,  and  then  thrusting  it 
into  the  firmly  knit  dough,  murmured  as  she  rubbed 
her  hands  on  her  apron  : 

"  How  the  thing  wails  and  exults !  Let  him  play, 
in  heaven's  name,  if  it  gives  him  any  relief;  but  gut 
is  expensive,  and  he's  sure  to  break  two  strings." 

Toward  evening  Wilhelm  was  obliged  to  go  to 
the  drill  of  the  rifle  corps  to  which  he  belonged. 
His  little  company  had  been  ordered  to  mount 
guard  at  the  Hoogewoort  Gate.  As  they  marched 
up  the  Nobelstrasse  he  heard  through  an  open  win- 
dow of  the  Hoogstraten  mansion  a  woman  singing 
in  a  deep,  clear  voice.  He  listened,  and  as  he 
noticed  with  a  shudder  how  much  Henrika's  voice 


82  TUE  BUltGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

resembled  Isabella's,  he  ordered  the  drums  to  be 
beaten. 

The  next  morning  a  servant  appeared  from  the 
iloogstraten  house  and  handed  VVilhelm  a  note,  in 
which  he  was  briefly  requested  to  be  at  the  Nobel- 
strasse  that  afternoon  at  two,  not  a  moment  earlier 
or  later. 

He  did  not  wish  to  say  "  yes ;''  he  could  not  say 
"  no,"  and  at  the  hour  appointed  he  was  at  the 
house. 

Henrika  awaited  him  in  the  cabinet  off  from  the 
hall.  She  looked  graver  than  the  day  before,  and 
the  deep  shadows  under  her  eyes  and  the  high 
color  in  her  cheeks  reminded  Wilhelm  of  Belotti's 
fears  for  her  health.  After  returning  his  saluta- 
tion she  said  quickly  and  without  further  ceremony  : 

"  I  have  something  to  say  to  you.  Sit  down.  To 
be  brief,  the  way  you  saluted  me  yesterday  has 
brought  an  idea  to  my  mind.  I  must  look  very 
much  like  some  other  woman,  and  you  met  her  in 
Italy.  You  may,  perhaps,  be  thinking  of  some  one 
who  is  very  near  to  me  and  of  whom  I  have  lost  all 
trace.  Answer  me  frankly,  for  I  am  not  asking  out 
of  mere  curiosity.     Where  did  y(Ui  meet  her?" 

"  In  Lugano.  We  drove  to  Milan  with  the  same 
mtturino.  I  met  her  later  in  Korae  and  saw  her 
daily  for  months." 

"Then  you  know  her  well.  Do  you  still  think 
the  resemblance  striking  on  seeing  me  a  second 
time  ?" 

"  Marvelous  in  the  extreme." 

"  Then  I  must  have  a  double.  Is  she  a  native  of 
this  country  V 

"  She  called  herself  an  Italian,  but  she  understood 
Dutch,  for  she  often  used  to  look  over  my  books 
and  used  to  follow  the  conversations  I  carried  on 
with  painters  who  wei'e  countrymen  of  mine.  I 
think  she  is  a  German  of  noble  family." 


THE  BURG0MASTEW8  WIFE.  83 

"  An  adventuress,  then  ?     And  her  name  ?" 

"  Isabella  ;  but  no  one  would  be  justified  in  call- 
ing her  an  adventuress." 

"  Was  she  married  f 

"  There  was  something  matronly  in  her  stately 
appearance,  but  she  never  spoke  to  me  of  a  husband. 
The  old  Italian  woman,  her  duenna,  alwavs  called 
her  Donna  Isabella,  but  she  had  little  more  knowl- 
edge of  her  past  than  I  had." 

"  Good  or  bad,  you  mean  ?" 

"  None  at  all." 

"  And  what  was  she  doing  in  Rome  ?" 

"She  was  devoting  herself  to  singing,  of  which 
art  she  was  mistrsss  ;  but  she  still  continued  her 
studies  and  made  great  progress  in  Rome.  It  was 
my  privilege  to  instruct  her  in  counterpoint." 

"And  she  appeared  in  public  as  a  singer  ?" 

"  Yes  and  no.  A  foreign  prelate  of  high  stand- 
ing was  her  patron  and  his  recommendation  opened 
all  doors  to  her,  even  the  Palestrina's.  The  princi- 
pal parts  in  church  music  were  given  to  her,  and 
she  did  not  refuse  to  sing  in  great  houses,  but  she 
never  appeared  for  money.  1  know  it,  as  I  was  the 
only  one  she  would  have  accompany  her.  My 
playing  was  agreeable  to  her  and  so,  through  her  I 
gained  access  to  many  great  houses." 

"  Was  she  rich  ?" 

"  No,  friiulein.  She  had  beautiful  clothes  and 
fine  jewels,  but  she  was  obliged  to  economize. 
From  time  to  time  money  came  to  her  from  Flor- 
ence, but  the  gold  pieces  slipped  quickly  through 
her  fingers,  for  while  she  lived  modestly  and  scarcely 
ate  enough  for  a  bird,  although  her  delicate  health 
required  more  strengthening  fare,  she^  was  extrava- 
gant to  folly  whenever  she  saw  a  poor  artist  in  dis- 
tress, and  she  knew  most  of  them,  for  she  did  not 
hesitate  to  sit  with  them  over  their  wine  when  I  was 
present." 


84  TUE  n UROOMASTER  'S  WIFE. 

"  With  men  devoted  to  music  and  art  ?" 
"  True  artists  of  noble  sentiments.     At  times  she 
surpassed  us  all  in  extravagant  spirits  " 
"At  times?" 

^"  Yes,  at  times  only,  for  she  had  sad,  painfully  sad 
hours  and  days,  but  as  rain  and  sunshine  succeed 
each  other  in  an  April  day  despair  in  life  and  joy  in 
living  alternately  gained  the  mastery  over  her." 

''  A  strange  character.  Do  you  know  what  has 
become  of  her  ?" 

"No,  friiulein.  One  evening  she  received  from 
Milan  a  letter  that  must  have  contained  bad  news, 
and  the  following  she  was  gone,  without  saying 
farewell. 

"And  you  never  attempted  to  follow  her?" 
Wilhelm  reddened  and  answered  constrainedly: 
"I   had  not  the  right  to  do   so.     And    besides, 
shortly    after    her   departure    I    was    taken    ill— 
serious]  V  ill." 

"  You  loved  her  ?" 

"  Gnddiges  Frdulein,  I  must  beg  you " 

"  You  did  love  her !  And  did  she  return  vour 
affection  ?"  ^ 

"  You  and  I  have  known  each  other  only  since 
yesterday,  Friiulein  van  Iloogstraten." 

"  Forgive  me  !  But  if  you  respect  my  wishes  this 
will  not  be  the  last  time  we  shall  see  each  other, 
although  my  double  is  not  the  lady  of  whom  I  was 
ihm\i.mg~auf  wiedei'sehen.  You  see,  the  calls  for 
me  have  begun  again.  You  have  aroused  my  interest 
in  your  strange  friend,  and  another  time  you  must 
tell  me  more  about  her.  But  one  thing  more: 
May  a  modest  girl  talk  with  impunity  to  you  about 
her  ?" 

"  Most  assuredly,  if  you  are  not  afraid  to  talk 
about  a  noble  woman  who  had  no  other  protector 
than  herself." 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFS.  85 

"  And  you,  don't  forget  yourself,"  cried  Henrika 
as  she  left  the  room. 

The  musician  went  thoughtfully  home.  Was  Isa- 
bella a  relative  of  this  young  girl  ?  He  had  told 
Henrika  almost  all  that  he  knew  of  her  outward 
circumstances  and  they,  perhaps,  gave  him  the  same 
right  that  many  others  iu  Rome  had  taken,  to  call 
her  an  adventuress.  The  word  wounded  him,  and 
Henrika's  question,  whether  he  loved  the  foreigner, 
disturbed  him  and  impressed  him  as  importunate 
and  unseemly.  Yes,  he  had  been  seized  with  a 
deep  passion  for  Isabella ;  it  had  been  hard  for  him 
to  be  nothing  more  to  her  than  a  good  comrade  and 
trusty  friend.  It  had  cost  him  a  severe  struggle  to 
hide  his  feelings  from  her,  and  he  knew  that  but  for 
the  fear  of  a  scornful  dismissal,  he  would  have 
yielded  and  declared  his  love.  The  old  wounds 
broke  out  anew  as  he  thought  of  the  time  when  she 
had  left  Rome  suddenly  and  without  taking  leave 
of  him. 

After  barely  recovering  from  a  severe  illness, 
he  had  returned  home  pale  and  broken,  and  it 
was  many  a  month  before  he  could  again  take  true 
pleasure  in  his  work.  At  first  the  thought  of  her 
contained  nothing  but  bitterness,  but  after  a  silent, 
a  persistent  struggle  he  had  succeeded  if  not  in 
forgetting  her,  at  least  in  separating  the  bitterness 
from  the  pure  and  sweet  delight  of  remembering 
her. 

Now  the  old  battle  was  beginning  anew,  but 
he  did  not  mean  to  yield  and  he  did  not  cease  to 
call  Isabella's  image  ^     his  mind  in  all  its  beauty. 

Henrika  returned  to  her  aunt  in  ^.eep  excitement. 
Was  the  adventuress  of  whom  AVilhelm  had  spoken 
the  only  creature  whom  she  had  loved  with  all  the 
intensity  of  her  ardent  nature  ?  Was  Isabella  her 
lost  sister  ?    Many  things  spoke  against  it,  but  it 


86  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

was  still  possible.  She  tortured  herself  with  ques- 
tions, and  the  less  peace  her  aunt  gave  her,  the  more 
unendurable  grew  the  headache,  the  more  plainly 
she  felt  that  the  fever  against  w^hich  she  had  been 
struggling  for  days  would  conquer  her. 


THE  BUHQOM ASTER'S  WIFE  87 


CHAPTEE  IX. 

On  the  evening  of  the  third  day  that  followed 
Wilhelra's  interview  with  Henrika,  his  wa}'-  led  him 
through  the  Nobelstrasse  and  past  the  Hoogstraten 
mansion. 

Before  he  reached  it  he  saw  two  gentlemen,  pre- 
ceded by  a  servant  bearing  a  lantern,  cross  the  cause- 
way toward  the  house. 

Wilhelm  watched  them  attentively.  The  servant 
raised  the  knocker  and  the  light  from  his  lantern 
fell  upon  the  men's  faces.  Both  were  known  to 
him. 

The  small,  dapper  old  gentleman  with  the  peaked 
hat  and  the  short  black  velvet  cloak  was  the  Abbe 
Picard,  a  lively  Parisian,  who  had  come  t  >  Leyden 
ten  years  before,  and  who  gave  French  lessons  in 
the  wealthy  families  of  the  town.  lie  had  also  been 
Wilhelm's  teacher,  but  the  musician's  father  would 
have  nothing  to  do  with  the  clever  abbe,  for  it  was 
said  that  he  had  left  his  beloved  France  on  account 
of  some  doubtful  transactions,  and  Herr  Cornelius 
suspected  him  of  being  a  Spanish  spy.  The  other 
gentleman,  a  gray-haired  man  of  medium  height 
and  unusual  stoutness,  who  required  much  cloth  for 
his  fur-trimmed  mantle,  was  the  Antwerp  represen- 
tative of  the  great  Italian  mercantile  house  of 
Bonvisi,  Signer  Lamperi,  who  came  every  year  with 
the  storks  and  swallows  to  Leyden  for  a  few  weeks 
on  business,  and  was  a  welcome  guest  in  every  ap- 
room  as  an  untiring  narrator  of  funny  stories.     Be- 


88  THE  B  U  ROOM  A  STER  '8  WIFE. 

fore  the  two  entered  the  house  they  were  joined  b}' 
a  third  gentleman,  preceded  by  two  lackeys  with 
lanterns.  A  wide  cloak  enveloped  his  tall  figure  ; 
he  too  was  an  old  ma\  and  no  r.tranger  to  AVilhelm, 
for  Monseigneur  Gloria,  who  came  frequently  to 
Leyden  from  Haarlem,  was  a  patron  of  music,  and 
when  the  young  musician  had  started  on  his  journey 
to  Italy,  luid  provided  him  in  spite  of  his  heretical 
faith,  with  valuable  letters  of  introduction. 

Wilhelm  continued  on  his  way  as  the  house  door 
closed  behind  the  three  gentlemen.  The  steward, 
Belotti,  had  told  him  the  day  before  that  the  friiu- 
lein  seemed  to  him  very  ill,  but  as  the  old  lady  was 
receiving  guests,  he  concluded  that  her  niece  must 
be  feeling  better. 

The  fil'st  story  of  the  Hoogstraten  mansion  was 
brilliantly  lighted  that  evening ;  in  the  second  story 
a  soft,  steady  light  shone  from  a  single  window 
upon  the  Nobelstrasse,  but  the  occupant  of  this  room 
sat  with  feverish  eyes  beside  a  heavy  table  and 
pressed  her  forehead  upon  its  marble  top.  Henrika 
was  quite  alone  in  the  spacious  and  loft^  apartment 
which  her  aunt  had  assigned  her.  Behind  curtains 
of  faded  brocade  stood  her  bedstead,  a  heavv  struc- 
ture of  abnormal  width.  The  rest  of  the  furniture 
was  large  and  had  once  been  splendid.  Every 
chair,  every  table  looked  as  though  it  had  been 
taken  from  some  deserted  banqueting-hall.  Nothing 
needful  was  lacking  in  this  room,  yet  it  was  any- 
thing but  home-like  and  habitable,  and  no  one  would 
have  guessed  that  its  occupant  was  a  young  girl, 
had  not  a  great,  gilded  harj)  leaned  against  the 
long,  hard  couch  beside  the  lire})lace. 

Henrika's  face  was  burning,  but  her  feet  resting 
on  the  uncarpeted  floor  of  colored  stone  were  freez- 
ing, although  she  had  wrapped  a  shawl  about  her 
lower  limbs. 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  89 

Shortly  after  the  three  gentlemen  had  entered  the 
house,  a  woman's  form  ascended  the  stairs  that  led 
from  the  first  to  the  second  story.  In  her  over  ex- 
cited state  of  mind,  Henri ka  heard  the  soft  tread  of 
the  satin  shoes  and  the  rustle  of  the  silken  train, 
long  before  the  approaching  figure  had  reached  the 
room,  and  breathmg  more  quickly,  she  drew  herself 
erect. 

A  thin  hand  opened  the  door  without  knocking, 
and  old  Friiulein  Van  Iloogstraten  advanced  straight 
toward  her  niece. 

The  aged  lady  had  once  been  beautiful,  but  her 
appearance  was  now  strange  and  unpleasing. 

The  bent,  haggard  form  was  clad  in  a  long  trailing 
gown  of  heavy  pink  silk.  The  small  head  almost 
disappeared  in  the  ruff,  a  large  structure  of  extraor- 
dinary height  and  width.  Upon  the  sallow  skin 
displayed  by  the  low-cut  neck  of  her  dress,  hung 
long  chains  of  pearls  and  sparkling  jewels,  and  on 
the  false,  reddish-yellow  curls  rested  a  turban  of 
blue  velvet  adorned  with  ostrich  plumes.  A  strong 
odor  of  perfumes  preceded  her.  She  herself  must 
have  found  it  overpowering,  for  the  huge,  glittering 
fan  in  her  hand  was  in  constant  motion  and  was 
waved  with  still  greater  violence  when  Ilenrika  in 
reply  to  her  sharp :  "  Be  quick,  be  quick !"  returned 
a  decided  "  No,  via  tanter 

The  old  lady,  however,  did  not  allow  herself  to  be 
disturbed  by  this  refusal  and  only  repeated  her  "  Be 
quick,  be  quick !"  with  greater  decision,  and  added 
impressively  in  explanation  : 

'•  Monsigneur  has  come  and  wishes  to  hear  you 


sing." 


"  I  am  deeply  honored,"  answered  the  girl, 
"  deeply  honored,  but  how  often  must  I  repeat :  1 
wilL  not  come." 

"  May  J  ask  why  not,  my  beauty  ?"  said  the  old 
lady,  *    . 


90  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"Because  I  am  not  fit  for  company,"  answered 
Henrika  vehemently;  "  because  my  head  aches  and 
ray  eves  burn,  because  I  cannot  sing  to-night,  and 
because— because— because— I  implore  you  to  leave 

me  in  peace." 

Old  Friiulein  van  Hoogstraten  let  her  fan  fall 
and  asked  coldly : 

"  Were  you  singing  two  hours  ago — ^yes  orno?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Then  the  headache  cannot  be  so  bad  and  Denise 
will  dress  you." 

''If  she'^ comes,  I  will  send  her  away.  When  I 
took  up  the  harp  awhile  ago  I  did  so  to  drive  away 
the  pain  by  singing.  It  relieved  it  for  a  few  mo- 
ments, but  my  head  is  throbbing  all  the  harder 
now." 

"  A  mere  excuse." 

"Believe  what  you  choose.  For  the  rest— if  I 
felt  as  well  as  a  squirrel  in  the  woods,  I  would  not 
go  down  to  your  guests.  I  shall  stay  here.  My 
word  for  it,  "^and  1  am  a  Hoogstraten  as  well  as 
vou." 

Henrika  had  risen  and  looked  at  her  oppressor 
with  an  unnatural  light  in  her  eyes.  The  old  woman 
waved  her  fan  more  rapidly  and  her  prominent  chin 
trembled.     Then  she  said  shortly  : 

"  Your  word  of  honor !  Then  you  will  not?  You 
will  not?" 

"Certainly  not,"  cried  the  girl  with  undutiful 
resolution. 

"  Every  one  to  his  taste,"  answered  the  old  woman. 
"But  there  is  sucli  a  thing  as  going  too  far.  Your 
father  will  not  thank  you." 

With  these  words  Friiulein  van  Hoogstraten 
gathered  up  her  long  train  and  advanced  to  the 
door.  There  she  stopped  and  looked  around  ques- 
tioningly  at  Henrika.  The  latter  did  not  fail  to  notice 


THE  B  URGOMASTER  'S  WIFE.  91 

her  aunt's  hesitation,  but  deliberately  turned  her 
back  upon  her  without  deigning  any  reply  to  the 
covert  threat. 

As  soon  as  the  door  had  closed  the  girl  sank 
back  into  her  chair,  pressed  her  forehead  against 
the  marble  top  of  the  table,  and  let  it  rest  there  for 
a  long  time.  Then  she  started  up  as  suddenly  and 
violently  as  though  obeying  an  imperative  summons, 
threw  back  the  lid  of  her  trunk,  tossed  the  stock- 
ings, bodices,  and  shoes  that  were  in  her  way  in  a 
circle  upon  the  floor,  and  did  not  rise  again 
until  she  had  found  some  sheets  of  writing  paper, 
Avhich  she  had  phiced  among  her  other  belongings 
before  leaving  her  father's  castle. 

As  she  rose  from  her  kneeling  posture  she  w^as 
seized  with  gidtliness,  but  she  kept  on  her  feet, 
placed  upon  the  table  first  the  white  sheets  together 
with  a  music  book,  then  a  ponderous  inkstand  which 
had  been  in  her  room  for  several  days,  and  then 
seated  herself  at  the  table. 

Leaning  far  back  in  her  chair,  she  began  to  write. 
The  book,  which  served  her  as  a  desk,  rested  upon 
her  knees.  The  quill  pen  slowly  scratched  the 
large,  bold  characters  on  the  white  surface.  ITen- 
rika  was  not  unskilled  in  writing,  but  to-day  it  must 
have  been  unusually  hard  for  her,  for  her  high  fore- 
head grew  moist,  her  lips  were  drawn  Avith  pain, 
and  after  writing  a  few  lines  she  would  close  her 
eyes  or  drink  eagerly  from  the  goblet  of  water  that 
stood  near  her. 

It  was  very  quiet  in  the  great  room,  but  at  times 
the  silence  was  broken  by  strange  sounds  and  noises 
that  reached  her  from  the  dining-hall  beneath  her 
chamber.  Clinking  of  glasses,  shrill  tittering,  loud, 
deep  laughter,  a  measure  or  two  from  a  light  love 
song,  cheers,  and  then  the  sharp  crash  of  a  wine 
glass  wantonly  broken,  came  up  to  her  in  a  confused 


92  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

medley  of  sounds.  She  did  not  wish  to  hear  it,  but 
she  heard  it  nevertheless  and  clinched  her  white 
teeth  angrily.  Still  the  pen  did  not  come  altogether 
to  a  pause. 

She  wrote  in  broken  sentences  or  in  phrases  so 
involved  and  incoherent  as  to  be  incoinprelionsible. 
Here  3'a\vned  omissions,  there  single  words  were 
repeated  over  and  over  again.  The  whole  was  like 
a  letter  written  by  a  madwoman,  and  yet,  in  every 
line,  in  everj'  stroke  of  the  pen,  the  same  wish  was 
expressed  with  passionate  longing:  "Away  from 
here !  Away  from  this  woman  and  from  this 
house  !" 

It  was  addressed  to  her  father.  She  implored 
him  to  free  her  from  this  place,  to  come  for  her  or 
send  for  her.  "  Her  uncle,  Matenesse  van  Wibis- 
ma,"  she  said,  "seemed  to  be  a  tardy  messenger ; 
to  be  sure,  while  here  he  had  taken  pleasure  in  her 
aunt's  evenings,  which  filled  her,  Henrika,  with 
loathing.  She  would  follow^  her  sister  out  into  the 
world  if  her  father  forced  her  to  remain  here," 
Then  she  entered  upon  a  description  of  her  aunt 
and  her  doings.  The  picture  of  the  days  and  nights 
that  she  had  endured  for  weeks  with  her  aunt  set 
forth  in  glaring  colors  a  succession  of  greater  and 
lesser  sufferings,  and  of  demands  degrading  to  both 
mind  and  body. 

Onl}'  too  often  did  the  drinking  and  tittering  go 
on  downstairs  as  on  this  evening  ;  but  not  that  alone 
— Henrika  had  always  been  obliged  to  associate 
with  her  aunt's  guests,  elderly  ?'oues  of  French  or 
Italian  origin  and  easy  morals.  As  she  described 
these  gatherings  the  blood  rose,  still  chirker,  to  her 
flushed  cheeks,  the  long  strokes  of  the  pen  grew 
heavier  and  heavier.  What  the  abbe  told  and  what 
her  aunt  laughed  at,  what  the  Italian  said  and 
monseigneur  reproved  with  a  smirk  and  a  slight 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  93 

shake  of  the  head,  was  so  shameful  that  she  would 
have  felt  herself  contaminated  by  repeating  it. 

Was  she  a  respectable  girl  or  was  she  not?  She 
would  rather  go  hungry  and  thirsty  than  be  present 
again  at  such  carousings.  "When  the  dining-hall 
was  empty  other  preposterous  demands  were  made 
upon  her,  for  her  aunt,  who  could  not  bear  to  be 
left  alone  for  a  moment,  was  ill  and  suffering,  and 
she  was  obliged  to  care  for  her.  That  she  was  glad 
and  willing  to  nurse  the  sick,  she  wrote,  she  had 
shown  suthciently  in  her  care  of  the  village  children 
when  they  were  ill  with  the  small-pox,  but  if  her 
aunt  could  not  sleep,  she  had  to  sit  up  with  her, 
holding  her  hand  and  listening  until  morning  to 
her  laments,  her  whimperings,  her  prayers,  her 
curses  of  herself  and  of  the  whole  deceitful  workl. 
She,  Henrika,  had  come  to  this  house  strong  and 
well,  bat  so  much  disgust,  anger,  and  constant  self- 
restraint  had  ruined  her  health. 

The  girl  wrote  until  midnight.  More  and  more 
indistinct  grew  the  letters,  more  and  more  uneven 
the  lines,  and  as  she  wrote  the  last  words  :  "  My 
head,  my  poor  head !  You  will  see  that  I  am  losing 
my  mind.  Oh,  please,  I  implore  you,  my  stern  and 
beloved  father,  I  implore  you,  take  me  home.  I 
have  heard  something  more  about  Anna — "  her 
eyes  grew  dim,  the  pen  dropped  from  her  hand, 
and  she  fell  back  senseless  in  her  chair. 

Thus  she  remained,  until  the  last  laugh  and  the 
clink  of  glasses  had  died  away  in  the  room  beneath, 
and  her  aunt's  guests  had  left  the  house. 

Denise,  the  camarista^  noticed  the  light  in  the 
young  fraulein's  room.  She  entered,  and  after 
vainly  trying  to  rouse  Henrika,  called  her  mistress. 

The  latter  followed  the  maid,  and  as  she  ascended 
the  stairs  she  muttered : 

"  Fallen  asleep,  ennui — nothing  more.     She  would 


94  TUE  B  URO0MA8TER  'S  WIFE. 


have  been  merry  with  us  downstairs,  and  would 
have  laughed.  Slug'gish  blood  !  '  People  of  butter  ' 
says  King  Philip.  That  mad  Lamperi  was  so 
wicked  to-niglit,  and  the  abbe  said  things — 
thmgs " 

The  old  woman's  eyes  were  bright  with  wine  and 
she  waved  her  fan  rapidly  to  and  fro  to  cool  her 
cheeks. 

She  stood  before  Henri  ka,  she  called  to  her,  shook 
her,  and  sprinkled  her  with  perfumed  water  from  a 
large  pearl,  set  in  gold,  that  hung  from  her  girdle 
and  served  as  a  smelling-bottle.  As  her  niece  only 
muttered  unintelligible  words  in  her  reph^she  bade 
the  maid  bring  the  medicine  chest. 

As  Denise  left  the  room  the  old  woman  caught 
sight  of  Henrika's  letter,  took  it  up,  and  with  in- 
creasing anger  read  it  word  for  word,  flung  it  down 
at  last,  and  tried  to  rouse  her  niece  by  shaking  her ; 
but  in  vain. 

Meanwhile  the  steward,  Belotti,had  been  informed 
of  Henrika's  severe  illness,  and  as  he  was  attached  to 
the  young  friiulein  he  sent  of  his  own  accord  for  a 
doctor  and  summoned  Father  Damianus  in  the  place 
of  the  banished  spiritual  adviser  of  the  house.  Then 
he  repaired  to  the  sick-room. 

Even  before  he  had  crossed  the  threshold  the  old 
woman  called  to  him  in  the  greatest  agitation  : 

"  Belotti,  what  do  you  say  now,  Belotti?  Sick- 
ness in  the  house,  contagious  sickness  perhaps,  per- 
haps even  the  plague." 

"  It  seems  to  be  nothing  but  a  fever,"  answered 
the  Italian  soothingly  ;  "  come,  Denise,  we  will  carry 
the  frilulein  to  the  bed.  The  doctor  will  soon  be 
here." 

"  The  doctor !"  shrieked  the  old  lady  and  struck 
the  marble  top  of  the  table  with  her  fan,"  who  gave 
you  permission,  Belotti " 


TEE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  95 

"  "We  are  Christians,"  interrupted  the  servant,  not 
without  dignity. 

"  Yery  well,  very  well !"  she  cried.  "  Do  as  you 
please,  call  whom  you  )>lease,  but  Henrika  cannot 
remain  here.  Infection  in  the  house,  the  plague,  a 
black  notice " 

"  Excellenza  alarms  herself  without  cause.  Let 
us  hear  what  the  doctor  saj^s  first," 

"  I  will  not  listen  to  him  !  I  will  not  have  the 
plague  or  the  small-pox.  Go  down  at  once,  Belotti, 
and  get  the  litter  ready.  The  old  cavalier's  room  in 
the  rear  building  is  empt^^" 

"  But,  excellenza,  it  is  musty  and  so  damp  that 
the  north  wall  is  covered  with  mildew." 

"  Then  have  it  cleaned  and  aired.  What  does  this 
hesitation  mean  ?  It  is  for  you  to  obey.  Do  you 
understand  me,  sir  V 

"  The  cavalier's  room  is  not  fit  for  my  gracious 
mistress'  sick  niece,"  answered  Belotti  respectfully 
but  firmly. 

"No?  Are  you  quite  sure  ?"  asked  the  fraulein 
scornfully.  "Go  down,  Denise,  and  have  the  litter 
brought  up.  Have  you  anything  else  to  sav, 
Belotti  ?" 

"  Yes,  padrona,"  answered  the  Italian  in  a  trem- 
bling voice.     "  I  beg  the  excellenza  to  dismiss  me." 

"  From  my  service  ?" 

"  With  excellenza's  permission,  yes — from  her 
service." 

The  old  woman  started  and  clutched  the  fan 
firmly  in  her  hands. 

"  You  are  sensitive,  Belotti." 

"  No,  excellenza,  but  I  am  old  and  I  shrink  from 
the  misfortune  of  beins;  ill  in  this  house." 

The  friiulein  shrugged  her  shoulders  and  turning 
to  the  cmnarista,  cried  : 

"  The  litter,  Denise.     You  are  dismissed,  Belotti  J' 


96  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 


CHAPTER  X. 

The  night  that  had  brought  sickness  and  suffering 
into  the  lioogstraten  mansion  was  followed  by  a 
beautiful  morning.  The  storks  were  once  more 
happy  in  Holland,  and  with  loud  and  joyous  clatter 
they  flew  out  across  the  meadows  upon  which  the 
sun  shone  brilliantly.  It  was  a  day  such  as  the  last 
of  April  sometimes  bestows  upon  mortals,  as  though 
to  show  them  that  they  pay  too  great  homage  to 
her  much  lauded  successor,  May,  but  altogether  too 
little  to  her.  In  her  house,  April  may  pride  herself, 
spring  is  born,  and  her  radiant  successor  only  con- 
tributes to  the  strength  and  unfolds  the  beauties  of 
her  nursling. 

It  was  Sunday  ;  and  as  the  bells  w^ere  ringing,  it 
would  seem  to  one  who  strolled  along  the  sunny 
roads,  through  the  flower-dotted  meadows  of  Hol- 
land, where  sleek  cattle  and  fleecy  sheep  and  idle 
horses  were  grazing,  and  met  peasants  in  neat  attire, 
and  peasant  women  with  shining  gold  ornaments 
under  their  snowy  lace  caps,  burghers  in  gay  ap- 
parel, and  children  released  from  school,  as  though 
nature  herself  wore  a  gala  dress  and  made  a  braver 
show  in  brighter  green,  clearer  blu(>,  and  richer 
wealth  of  flowers  than  on  week  days. 

A  joyous  Sunday  spirit  likewise  ]K)ssessed  the 
burfj-hers  w^ho  were  takino:  an  outing  in  the  countrv 
on  foot,  in  huge,  crowded  lumber  wagons,  or  in 
gayly  painted  boats  on  the  Rhine,  to  enjoy  country 
bread,  golden  butter,  and  fresh  cheesCj  milk,  and 


TUB)  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  0^ 

cool  beer,  with  their  wives  and  children,  during  the 
leisure  hours  of  this  day  of  rest. 

Wilhelin  had  long  since  finished  his  organ  play- 
ing in  the  church,  but  he  had  not  gone  with  his 
companions  into  the  country,  for  he  preferred  to  use 
the  hours  of  rest  for  more  distant  journeyings  where 
shoe  leather  played  no  part. 

They  bore  him  on  the  wings  of  the  wind  over  the 
plains  of  his  native  land,  across  the  hills  and  dales 
of  Germany,  over  the  Alps,  and  away  to  Italy.  A 
spot  suited  to  such  forgetfuiness  of  the  present,  and 
of  his  daily  surroundings  in  favor  of  bygone  da\s 
and  a  far-away  land,  awaited  him.  His  brothers, 
Ulrich  and  Johannes,  who  were  also  musicians,  but 
who  had  recognized  Wilhelm's  greater  gifts  without 
envy  and  helped  him  to  improve  them,  had  fitted 
up  for  him  during  his  absence  in  Italy,  on  the  nar- 
row side  of  the  pointed  roof  of  the  house,  a  nicely 
furnished  room  out  of  which  a  wide  door  led  upon 
a  little  balcony.  Here  stood  a  wooden  bench  where 
Wilhelm  liked  to  sit  and  watch  tlie  flight  of  his 
pigeons  and  gaze  dreamily  into  the  distance,  or 
when  he  was  disposed  to  artistic  creation,  listened 
to  the  harmonies  that  filled  ins  soul. 

A  beautiful  view  was  to  be  had  from  this  highest 
point  of  the  house;  indeed,  one  could  see  almost  as  far 
as  from  the  top  of  the  citadel,  the  old  Roman  tower 
in  the  center  of  the  cit}'.  Like  a  spider  in  its  web  lay 
Wilhelm's  native  town  amid  the  countless  canals 
and  streams  that  crossed  the  meadows.  The  red- 
brick cit}"  wall  with  its  towers  and  bastions,  and  the 
dark  thread  of  water  at  its  base,  encircled  the  pretty 
city  almost  as  a  fillet  encircles  a  maiden's  head,  and 
like  a  crown  of  loosely  woven  thorns,  bastions  and 
intrenchments  stretched  in  a  wide  broken  circle 
about  the  walls.  Between  the  defenses  and  the  city 
wall  browsed  herds  of  cattle,  and  near  and  beyond 
the  defenses  rose  villages  and  hamlets. 


98  TEE  BURG OMASTEIVS  WIFE. 

On  this  clear  April  day  one  could  see,  if  one 
looked  to  the  north,  the  Haarlem  Lake  ;  to  the  west, 
bej'ond  the  leafy  dome  of  the  forest  of  the  Hague 
vinust  lie  the  dunes  whicii  nature  had  piled  up  al  a 
protection  to  the  country  against  the  importunate 
waves.  The  long  chain*' of  hills  offered  a  sterner 
and  more  impregnable  front  to  the  assaults  of  the 
ocean  than  the  earthworks  and  redoubts  of  Alfen, 
Leyderdorp,  and  Yol  ken  burg,  the  throe  forts  that 
lay  close  to  the  banks  of  the  Rhine,  presented  to  the 
hostile  armies.  The  Rhine  !  Wilhelm  gazed  down 
at  the  narrow,  sluggish  stream  and  com]:>ared  it  to  a 
dethroned  monarch  who  had  lost  power  and  great- 
ness and  who  graciously  strives  to  bestow  blessings 
in  a  limited  circle  with  what  remains  of  his  posses- 
sions. The  musician  was  familiar  with  the  noble 
German  Rhine  and  often  followed  it  in  spii-it  to  the 
south,  but  oftener  his  dreams  carried  him  with  a 
mighty  bound  to  the  lake  of  Lugano,  the  pearl  of 
the  Western  Alps,  and  when  he  thought  of  it  and 
the  Mediterranean  he  saw  emerald  green  and  azure 
blue  and  golden  light ;  and  at  such  times  all  his 
thoughts  w^ere  transformed  within  his  breast  into 
music  and  exquisite  harmonies. 

And  his  journey  from  Lugano  to  Milan  !  Modest 
and  overcrowded  was  the  carriage  that  bore  him  to 
Leonardo's  city,  but  in  it  he  had  found  Isabella.  And 
Rome,  Rome,  the  noble,  never-to-be-forgotten  Rome, 
Avhere  we  grow  out  of  ourselves  and  gain  in  ])ower 
and  intellectual  wealth  as  long  as  we  remain  there 
and  which  makes  us  wretched  with  longing  when 
it  lies  behind  us ! 

On  the  banks  of  the  Tiber  AVilhelm  had  first 
learned  the  meaning  of  art,  his  glorious  art ;  here, 
at  Isabella's  side,  a  new  world  had  opened  out  to 
him,  but  upon  the  flowers  that  had  sprung  up  in  his 
breast  in  Rome  a  heavy  frost  had  fallen,  and  he 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  99 

knew  that  they  were  ruined  and  could  never  bear 
fruit — but  to-day  he  succeeded  in  recalling  her  to 
his  mind  in  her  youthful  beauty  and  in  thinking  not 
of  his  lost  love  but  of  his  kind  friend,  Isabella,  and 
in  dreaming  of  a  sky  as  blue  as  solid  turquoise  and 
delicate  cyanite,  of  slender  columns  and  bubbling 
fountains,  of  olive  groves  and  marble  statues,  of 
cool  churches  and  gleaming  villas,  of  jDassionate  eyes 
and  fiery  wine,  of  superb  choirs  and  of  Isabella's 
singing. 

The  pigeons  that  were  cooing  and  clucking  in  the 
cote  beside  him  flew  in  and  out  at  will,  for  now 
that  their  guardian  was  not  watching  them,  they 
could  do  as  they  chose. 

Allertssohn,  the  fencing-master,  climbed  the 
ladder  to  Wilhelm's  watchtower,  but  AVilhelm  did 
not  notice  him  until  he  stood  beside  him  on  the 
balcony  and  greeted  him  in  his  deep  voice. 

"Where  have  we  been,  Herr  Wilhelmf  asked 
the  graybeard.  "  In  this  cloth-weaving  Leyden  \ 
No !  Probably  with  the  goddess  of  music  herself  on 
Olympus — that  is,  if  she  has  her  lodging  there." 

"  You  have  guessed  aright,"  answered  Wilhclm, 
pushing  the  hair  from  his  forehead  Avith  both  hands. 
''  I  have  been  to  visit  her  and  she  sends  you  her 
compliments." 

"  Then  give  her  mine  in  return,"  answered  the 
other,  "  though  she  and  lare  only  distant  acquaint- 
ances. My  throat  is  better  suited  to  drinking  than 
singing.     Will  you  allow  me  ?" 

The  fencing-master  took  up  the  jug  of  beer, 
which  Wilhelm's  mother  filled  freshly  every  day 
and  placed  in  her  darling's  room,  and  took  a  deep 
draught.     Then  lie  wiped  his  mustache  and  said : 

"That  did  me  good,  and  I  needed  it.  The  men 
wanted  to  get  out  and  enjoy  themselves  instead  of 
drilling,  but  we  forced  them  to  go  through  with  it, 


100  TUB  BUROOMASTEII'S  WIFE. 

Jonker*  van  Wurmond,  Duivenvoorde  and  T.  Who 
knows  how  soon  we  shall  be  called  upon  to  show 
what  we  can  do?  ^y  Roland,  my  fore  man,  such 
fo[ly  is  like  a  cudgel,  against  which  Florentine 
rapiers  and  skillful  tierce  and  carte  avail  nothing. 
Mv  wheat  is  ruined  by  the  hail."  f 

"  Then  let  it  lie,  and  see  whether  the  barley  and 
clover  will  not  do  better,"  answered  Wilhelm  gayly, 
tossing  some  grain  to  a  large  pigeon  that  had  alighted 
on  the  parapet  of  his  watchtower. 

"The  creature  eats,  but  what  is  it  good  for?" 
cried  AUertssohn  as  he  watched  the  bird,  "llerr 
van  Warinond,  a  3'oung  man  after  my  own  heart, 
has  just  brought  me  two  falcons.  Do  you  want  to 
see  how  I  tame  them  ?" 

"  No,  captain,  I  have  enough  in  my  pigeons  and 
my  music." 

"As  you  choose.  That  long-necked  one  there  is 
a  comical  knave." 

"  What  country  does  he  hail  from,  do  you  think  ? 
There  he  goes  flying  to  the  others.  Watch  him 
awhile  and  tell  me." 

"Ask  King  Solomon;  he  was  on  familiar  terms 
with  birds." 

"  Watch  him  and  you  will  soon  find  out." 

"  The  fellow  has  a  stiff  neck  and  carries  his  head 
unusually  high." 

"And  his  beak?" 

"Curved  like  a  hawk's,  almost !  Potz  Tausend ! 
bow  the  fellow  struts  about  Avith  his  toes  turned 
out !  Stop,  bandit !  He'll  peck  that  little  pigeon 
to  death.  Upon  my  soul,  the  insolent  rascal  must 
come  from  Spain." 

"  Quite   riglit,  it  is  a  Spanish  pigeon.     He   has 


*  Jouker,  a  nobleman. 

t  Mir  ist  der  Weizen  verhagelt :    I  am  disgusted  with  things. 


THE  BURaoMASTER'S  WIFE.  101 

come  to  the  cote,  but  I  do  not  want  him  ;  for  I  keep 
only  a  few  pairs  of  the  same  breed  and  I  am  tryin^^ 
to  have  the  best.  It  is  useless  to  try  and  raise  dif- 
ferent breeds  in  one  cote." 

''  That  is  something  to  think  about.  But  I  don't 
think  that  you  have  chosen  the  handsomest  breed." 

"No.  What  you  see  are  a  cross  between  carrier 
and  tumbler,  the  Antwerp  breed  of  carrier-pigeons. 
Blue,  red,  or  spotted,  the  color  matters  not,  but  they 
must  have  small  bodies  and  large  wings  with  broad 
quills  on  their  pinion-feathers,  and  above  all,  good 
muscles.  That  one  there — w^ait,  I  will  catch  him 
—is  one  of  my  best  flj'ers.  Try  and  lift  his 
wing." 

"  The  little  thin^  is  strong  indeed.  How  he 
holds  down  his  wing!  Falcons  are  not  much 
stronger." 

"  He's  a  carrier  too  and  can  find  his  w^ay  alone." 

"Why  don't  you  keep  some  white  tumblers?  I 
should  think  that  one  could  follow  them  in  their 
flight  longer  than  any  others," 

"  Because  it  i^,  the  same  with  pigeons  as  with 
men.  Any  one  that  makes  a  show  and  can  be  seen 
from  a  distance  is  pursued  by  enemies  and  envious 
people,  and  birds  of  prey  always  pounce  first  upon 
white  pigeons.  J  tell  you,  meister,  that  if  one 
keeps  one's  eyes  open,  one  can  learn  in  a  dove-cote 
the  whole  history  of  the  descendants  of  Adam  and 
Eve." 

"  You  mean  that  fighting  and  love-making  goes 
on  here  just  as  it  does  in  Ley  den." 

"  Exactly,  captain.  If  1  mate  a  young  pigeon 
and  an  old  one,  it  never  turns  out  well.  Wiien  the 
male  is  in  love  he  knows  how  to  pay  as  pretty  com- 
pliments to  his  fair  one  as  the  finest  gallant  to  his 
dulcinea.  And  do  you  know  what  the  billing  and 
cooing  mean?    The  suitor  feeds  his  darling;  that 


102  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

is,  he  strives  to  win  her  by  fine  presents.  Then 
conies  the  wedding,  and  they  build  a  nest.  If  there 
are  young  ones,  they  feed  them  together  in  perfect 
iiarinonv.  Tlie  best  breeds  are  bad  setters  and 
we  phice  their  eggs  under  birds  of  a  commoner 
breed." 

"  They  are  the  noble  ladies  who  have  nurses  for 
their  children." 

"  Unmated  pigeons  often  make  mischief  among 
the  mated  pigeons." 

"Take  warning, young  man,  and  beware  of  being 
a  bachelor.  1  tlon't  say  anything  against  girls  who 
remain  unmarried  ;  I  have  found  many  sweet  and 
helpful  women  among  them." 

"  So  have  I,  but  bad  ones  too,  unfortunately,  as 
here  in  the  cote.  On  the  whole,  my  charges  are 
happy  in  their  marriages,  but  if  it  comes  to  a  sepa- 
ration  " 

"  Which  of  the  two  is  at  fault  ?" 

"  In  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  the  female." 

"By  Koland,  my  fore  man,  just  as  it  is  among 
people,"  cried  the  fencing-master,  clapping  his 
hands. 

"  What  is  this  about  your  Roland,  ITerr  Allerts  ? 
You  promised  me  a  short  time  ago — but  who  is  that 
coming  up  the  ladder  ?" 

"  I  hear  your  mother." 

"  She  is  bringing  a  visitor.  I  know  that  voice — 
and  yet —  Wait.  It  is  Frilulein  van  Iloogstraten's 
steward." 

"  From  Nobelstrasse  ?  Let  me  go,  Wilhelm.  This 
Glipper  crew " 

"  Wait  a  moment,  there  is  room  for  only  one  on 
the  ladder,"  said  the  musician  and  held  out  his  hand 
to  Belotti  to  help  him  from  the  last  round  into  the 
room. 

"Spaniards  and  friends  of  Spaniards,"  muttered 


TEE  BUllQOMASTEB'S  WIFE,  103 

the  fencing-master,  going  to  the  door,  and  calling  as 
he  began  to  descend  the  ladder :  "  I  will  wait  down 
here  until  the  air  is  pure  again." 

The  steward's  handsome  face,  usually  smooth 
shaven,  was  covered  with  a  stubble  of  beard,  and 
the  old  man  looked  troubled  and  worn,  as  he  began 
to  tell  AVilhelm  what  had  tai^en  place  since  the 
previous  evening  in  his  mistress'  house. 

"A  man  who  has  a  quick  temper,"  said  the 
Italian,  as  he  went  on  with  his  story,  "  may  grow 
weaker  Avith  years,  but  not  calmer.  I  could  not 
look  on  and  see  the  poor  angel,  for  she's  not  far 
from  the  Virgin's  throne,  treated  like  a  sick  dog  that 
is  thrown  out  into  the  courtyard,  and  so  I  took  my 
leave." 

"  It  does  you  honor ;  but  the  time  was  ill  chosen. 
And  did  they  reall}'^  take  the  friiulein  to  the  damp 
room  ?" 

"No,  sir.  Father  Damianus  came  and  made  the 
old  excellenza  understand  what  the  Holy  Virgin 
expects  from  Chrisiian  people,  and  when  the  padrona 
still  attempted  to  have  her  way,  the  holy  man  spoke 
to  her  so  sharpl}^  and  sternly  that  she  submitted. 
The  signorina  is  lying  in  her  bed  with  burning 
cheeks  and  talking  wildly." 

"  And  who  is  treating  the  patient  ?" 

"  It  was  about  a  doctor  that  I  have  come  to  you, 
my  dear  sir  ;  for  Doctor  de  Bont,  who  lost  no  time 
in  coming  when  I  sent  for  him,  was  treated  so  badly 
by  the  excellenza  that  he  turned  his  back  upon  her 
and  declared  to  me,  on  leaving,  that  he  would  not 
come  again." 

"VVilhelm  shook  his  head,  but  the  Italian  went  on  : 

"  There  are  other  doctors  in  Leyden,  to  be  sure, 
but  Father  Damianus  says  that  Doctor  de  Bont  or 
Bontius,  as  they  call  him,  is  the  cleverest  and  most 
conscientious  of  tiiem  all,  and  as  the  old  excellenza 


104  TUE  nUROOM ASTER'S  WIFE. 

herself  had  a  sliock  this  noon,  and  cannot  leave  her 
bed  for  a  lono;'  while,  the  way  is  clear,  and  Father 
Daniianus  says  that  he,  himself,  will  go  for  Doctor 
Bontius  if  necessary.  But  as  vou  are  a  native  of 
the  town,  and  are  not  a  stranger  to  the  signorina,  I 
wanted  to  spare  tlie  Father  the  refusal  which 
sureh^  awaits  him  from  the  enemy  of  our  holy 
Church.  Besides  the  poor  man  has  enough  to  bear 
from  the  scoffers  and  good-for-nothing  boys  when 
h'";  ;j:oes  tiirou<«h  the  streets  with  the  saci'ament." 

"  You  know  that  it  is  strictly  forbidden  to  disturb 
him  in  the  performance  of  his  duties." 

"  Yet  he  cannot  show  himself  in  the  streets  with- 
out being  taunted.  You  and  1  cannot  change  the 
world,  sir.  As  long  as  the  Church  had  the  upper 
hand,  she  burned  and  quartered  you,  and  now  that 
you  are  in  power  here,  our  priests  are  persecuted 
and  derided." 

"  In  opposition  to  the  law  and  the  decree  of  the 


)3 


magistrates. 

"  You  will  not  restrain  the  people,  and  Father 
Damianus  is  a  lamb  who  bears  all  things  patiently, 
and  is  as  good  a  Christian  as  inany  a  saint  before 
whom  we  burn  candles.    Do  you  know  the  doctor?" 

"  Slightly,  by  sight." 

"  Oh,  then,  go  to  him,  sir,  for  the  frilulein's 
sake,"  cried  the  old  man  beseechingly.  "It  is  in 
your  power  to  save  a  human  life — a  beautiful,  3'oung, 
human  life." 

The  steward's  eyes  were  moist.  As  Wilhelm  laid 
his  hand  on  the  other's  arm,  and  said  kindly  :  "I 
will  try,"  the  fencing-master  shouted  at  the  door : 
"  Your  conference  is  too  long  for  me.  Good-by 
until  another  time." 

"Ko,  come  in  for  a  moment.  This  gentleman 
has  come  here  on  account  of  a  poor  gii-l  wh.o  is 
dangerously  ill.     The  helpless  child  is  now  lying 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE,  105 

alone  without  attendance,  for  her  aunt,  the  old 
Fraulein  van  Hoogstraten  has  driven  Doctor  do 
Bont  from  the  bedside  because  he  is  a  Calvinist." 

"  From  the  sick  girl's  bedside  ?" 

"It  is  contemptible  enough;  but  now  the  old 
lady  is  down  herself." 

"  Bravo,  bravo !"  cried  the  fencing-master,  clap- 
ping his  hands.  "  If  the  devil  himself  isn't  afraid 
of  her  and  wants  to  carry  her  off,  I'll  pay  for  the 
post-horses.     But  the  girl — the  sick  girlf 

"This  gentleman  here  begs  me  to  induce  DeBont 
to  ffo  to  her  a^iin.    You  are  a  friend  of  the  doctor  ?" 

"I  was,  Wilhelm,  I  was;  but — last  Friday  we 
almost  came  to  blows  about  the  new  helmets  ;  and 
now  the  learned  demi-god  demands  an  apology 
from  me ;  but  it  isn't  like  me  to  sound  the 
retreat " 

"  Oh,  good  sir !"  cried  Belotti  with  touching 
earnestness  ;  "  the  poor  child  is  lying  in  a  high  fever 
and  without  help.  If  Heaven  has  blessed  you  with 
children " 

"Gently,  old  man,  gentl}'',"  answered  the  fencing- 
master.  "  My  children  are  no  concern  of  yours, 
but  we  will  do  what  we  can  do  for  the  young  lady. 
Auf  wiederseJhjn,  gentlemen.  Roland,  my  fore 
man,  what  sha'n't  we  live  to  see!  Ilemp  is  cheap 
in  Holland,  and  yet  such  a  monster  has  lived  among 
us  to  be  as  old  as  a  raven." 

With  these  words  he  climbed  down  the  ladder. 
In  the  street  he  pondered  with  a  wry  face  over  the 
apology  he  was  to  make  to  Doctor  Bontius,  but  all 
the  while  his  eyes  and  bearded  lips  were  smiling. 

His  learned  friend  made  the  apology  easy  for 
him,  and  when  Belotti  returned  to  the  house  he 
found  the  doctor  at  the  sick  girl's  bedside. 


106  THE  BUnaOMASTEB'S  WIFE. 


CHAPTER  XL 

Frau  Elizabeth  vox  Nokdwyk  and  tbe  wife  of  the 
clerk  of  the  council,  Yan  Hout,  had  both  asked  the 
burgomaster's  wife  to  go  with  them  into  the  country 
to  enjoy  the  beautiful  spring  day,  but,  in  spite  of 
Barbara's  persuasions  the  young  wife  could  not  be 
induced  to  accept  their  invitation. 

Since  her  husband's  departure  a  week  had  run  its 
course  as  slowly  as  the  brackish  water  in  one  of  the 
canals  that  intersected  the  meadows  of  Holland 
crept  toward  the  broad  river. 

Sleep  loves  the  couch  of  youth  and  it  had  come  to 
hers  again,  but  with  the  rising  of  the  sun  returned 
the  discontent,  uneasiness,  and  inward  distress  that 
sleep  had  mercifully  interrupted. 

She  know  that  it  was  not  right  and  that  her 
father  would  have  reproached  her  had  he  seen 
her  so. 

There  are  women  who  are  ashamed  of  red  cheeks 
and  unaffected  enjoyment  of  life,  and  who  find  a 
miserable  pleasure  in  suffering.  Maria  was  certainly 
not  one  of  these.  She  would  have  been  glad  to  be 
happy  and  she  left  no  means  untried  to  win  back 
her  lost  peace  of  mind.  Honestly  anxious  to  fulfill 
her  duty  she  returned  to  little  Lieschen's  bedside, 
but  the  chikl  recovered  rapitlly  and  called  for  Bar- 
bara, or  Adrian,  or  Trautchen  as  soon  as  she  found 
herself  alone  with  her. 

She  tried  to  read,  but  the  few  books  that  she  had 
brought  with  her  from  Delft  were  all  familiar  to 


TEE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  107 

her,  and  before  she  could  become  absorbed  in  them 

her  thoughts  followed  their  own  course. 

Wilhelin  brought  her  the  new  motet,  and  she  at- 
tempted to  sing  it  through  ;  but  music  requires  com- 
plete devotion  from  those  who  wish  to  enjoy  its 
gifts,  and  therefore  the  phiying  on  the  flute  and  the 
singing  refused  to  bring  either  comfort  or  pleasure 
to  her  whose  mind  was  occupied  with  other  things. 

When  she  lielped  Adrian  with  his  studies  her 
patience  was  exhausted  much  sooner  than  usual. 
On  the  first  market-day  she  went  out  with  Ti-autchen 
to  make  purchases  according  to  her  husband's  in- 
structions, and  as  she  went  from  the  various  stands 
Avhere  different  commodities  were  offered  for  sale — ■ 
here  fish,  there  meat  or  vegetables — and  mingled 
wath  the  motley  throng  and  heartl  called  from  every 
side  :  "  Frau  Blirgemeisterin,  here  !"  and  "  I'rau 
Burgemeisterin,  I  have  what  you  want !"  she  forgot 
what  was  depressing  her. 

With  newly-awakened  self-confidence  she  sampled 
flour,  pulse  and  dried  fish,  and  made  it  a  point  to 
bargam  carefully.  Barbara  should  see  that  she  un- 
derstood how  to  buy.  The  crowds  were  dense  at 
every  stall,  for  the  city  magistrates  had  issued  a 
proclamation  bidding  every  household,  in  view  of 
the  danger  that  threatened,  to  lay  in  ample  stores 
on  all  the  market  da\^s,  but  even  the  busy  purchasers 
made  room  for  the  burgomaster's  pretty  young  wife, 
and  this  too  did  her  heart  good. 

With  a  bright  face  and  happy  in  having  done  her 
best,  she  returned  home  and  went  at  once  to  the 
kitchen  to  find  Barbara. 

Peter's  sister  had  noticed  Maria's  depression,  and 
was  glad  to  see  her  sally  forth  to  make  her  pur- 
chases. The  choosing  and  bargaining  could  not  but 
distract  her  and  bring  her  thoughts  into  another 
channeh     To  be  sure,  the  careful  housekeeper,  who 


108  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

credited  Maria  with  possessing  all  good  qualities  but 
those  of  a  clever  housewife,  had  bidden  Trautchen 
to  see  that  her  mistress  was  not  imposed  upon.  But 
when  the  demand  is  two  or  three  times  as  great  as 
the  supply  prices  rise.  And  so  it  came  about  that 
■when  Maria  told  what  she  had  paid  for  this  and  that 
Barbara  exclaimed  in  quick  succession:  "But,  child, 
that  is  unheard  of  !"  or  "  It  is  enough  to  drive  us  to 
beggary !" 

These  exclamations,  which  under  the  prevailing 
circuuistances  were  for  the  greater  part  unjust,  an- 
gered Maria,  but  she  was  anxious  to  be  at  peace 
with  her  sister-in-law,  and  although  it  was  hard  for 
her  to  be  blamed  unjustly  it  was  not  her  nature  to 
express  her  vexation  in  violent  words.  So  she  said, 
with  only  slight  excitement: 

"  Ask  what  other  ladies  paid  and  then  scold  me  if 
you  think  it  just." 

With  that  she  left  the  kitchen. 

"My  child,  I  am  not  scolding,"  cried  Barbara  after 
her,  but  Maria  would  not  hear,  went  quickly  upstairs 
and  shut  herself  into  her  room.  Her  happiness  had 
vanished  again. 

On  Sunday  she  went  to  church.  After  dinner  she 
filled  a  bag"^  with  provisions  for  Adrian,  who  was 
going  on  a  boating  excursion  with  some  friends, 
and  then  seated  herself  in  her  room  by  the  window. 
Portly  gentlemen,  among  them  several  members  of 
the  council,  went  by  with  their  wives  and  children 
in  holiday  garb ;  young  girls  with  flowers  at  their 
bosoms  walked  arm-in-arm  by  twos  and  threes  along 
the  footpath  beside  the  canal  to  dance  in  the  village 
outside  the  Zylthor.  They  walked  in  silence  and 
with  decorously  downcast  eyes,  but  more  than  one 
cheek  flushed  and  more  than  one  suppressed  laugh 
came  from  fresh  lips  when  the  burgher  lads,  who 
were  following  the  demure  maidens  as  closely  as 


TEE  B  UROOMASTER  'S  WIFE.  109 

sea-gulls  a  ship,  indulged  in  raillery  or  whispered 
words  that  no  third  person  was  supposed  to  hear. 

Cheerful  and  free  from  care  seemed  the  crowds 
that  streamed  toward  the  Zylthor,  and  one  could 
see  in  every  face  the  anticipation  of  pleasant  hours 
in  the  fresh  air  and  the  sunny  meadows.  AVhat  was 
drawing  them  out  of  doors  seemed  beautifid  and 
desirable  even  to  the  burgomaster's  wife  ;  but  what 
had  slie,  with  her  heavy  heart,  alone  among  stran- 
gers, to  do  with  happy  people  ?  The  shadows  of  the 
houses  seemed  unusually  dark  to  her,  the  city  air 
heavier  than  ever  before,  and  it  seemed  as  though 
spring  had  come  to  every  one,  great  and  small,  young 
and  old,  but  not  to  her. 

The  trees  and  houses  along  the  Achtergracht  were 
already  casting  longer  shadows  and  the  golden  vapor 
that  floated  above  the  roofs  began  to  mingle  with  a 
tender  pink,  when  Maria  heard  a  horse  approaching 
at  a  trot.  She  sat  erect  and  rigid,  and  her  heart 
beat  violently.  She  wished  to  receive  Peter  differ- 
ently from  usual.  She  w^ould  be  frank  with  him 
and  show  him  what  was  in  her  mind  and  that  things 
could  not  continue  as  they  were  ;  she  already  sought 
for  fitting  words  for  what  she  had  to  say  to  him. 
The  horse  stopped  before  the  door.  She  stepped  to 
the  window  and  saw  her  husband  swing  himself 
from  the  saddle  and  look  gladly  up  at  her  room. 
She  did  not  wave  to  him,  but  her  heart  drew  her  to 
him.  All  her  reflections,  all  her  misgivings  were 
forgotten,  and  with  flying  feet  she  ran  along  the 
passage  to  the  stairs.  In  the  meanwhile  he  had 
entered  the  hall  and  she  called  his  name.  "  Cliild, 
Maria,  is  that  you !"  came  his  answer,  and,  active  as 
a  boy,  he  sprang  up  the  stairs,  met  her  on  the  top- 
most step,  and  drew  her  with  overwhelming  tender- 
ness to  his  heart. 

"  At  last,  at  last  I  have  you  again  !"  he  cried  joy- 


1 10  THE  B  URQOMA  STER  'S  WIFE. 

fully,  and  pressed  his  lips  to  her  eyes  and  her 
fragrant  hair.  She  wound  her  arms  tight  about  his 
neck,  hut  he  freed  himself  and  holding  her  hands  in 
his,  asked  :  "  Are  Barbara  and  Adrian  at  home  ?" 

She  shook  her  head. 

Then  he  laughed,  bent  down,  lifted  her  as  he 
would  a  child,  and  bore  her  to  his  room.  Maria, 
notwithstanding  her  long-cherished  resolve  to  receive 
him  coldly,  was  carried  away  by  his  warmth  of  feel- 
ing. She*^  rejoiced  in  having  him  once  more  and 
believed  him  willingl}'^  when  he  told  her  with  tender 
words  how  painful  the  separation  had  been  to  him, 
how  sorely  he  had  missed  her,  and  how,  in  spite  of 
his  usual  inability  to  recall  the  faces  of  those  who 
were  absent,  her  image  had  ever  been  distinctly 
before  his  eyes. 

How  fervently  and  with  what  convincing  words 
he  knew  how  to  give  expression  to  his  love  to-day  ! 
She  was  a  happy  wife  after  all,  and  she  showed  him 
unreservedly  that  she  was. 

Barbara  and  xYdrian  returned  and  there  was  much 
to  be  told  at  the  evening  meal.  Peter  had  had 
many  strange  adventures  on  his  journey  and  had 
gained  fresh  hope,  tJje  boy  had  distinguished  him- 
self at  school,  and  Lieschen's  illness  could  now  be 
reckoned  among  the  dangers  that  were  past.  Bar- 
bara beamed  with  jo}'-,  for  between  Maria  and  her 
brother  all  seemed  well  once  more. 

The  fair  summer  evening  passed  happily. 

Maria's  heart  was  light  tiie  following  morning  as 
she  braided  a  black  velvet  ribbon  into  her  hair,  for 
she  had  found  courage  to  tell  Peter  that  she  longed 
for  a  greater  share  in  his  troubles,  and  had  received 
a  kindly  acquiescence.  A  nobler,  richer  life,  she 
lioped,  would  begin  for  her  from  now  on.  This 
very  day  he  was  to  tell  her  what  he  had  accom- 
plished with  the  prince  and  at  Dortrecht,  for  until 
now  no  word  on  the  subject  had  ])assed  his  lips. 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  HI 

Barbara,  who  was  bustling  about  the  kitchen  and 
was  just  on  the  point  of  taking  three  chickens  from 
a  coop  to  kill  them,  gave  them  a  short  respite  and 
even  threw  them  a  handful  of  barley,  as  she  heard 
her  sister-in-law  come  singing  down  the  stairs.  The 
snatches  of  Wilhelm's  latest  madrigal  sounded  to 
her  as  sweet  and  full  of  promise  as  the  first  note  of 
the  nightingale. 

It  was  spring  again  in  the  house,  and  her  kind, 
round  face  looked  from  her  great  cap,  as  bright  and 
unclouded  as  a  sunflower  from  its  green  sepals. 

"This  is  one  of  j^our  good  days,  child;  we  will 
melt  down  the  butter  and  salt  the  hams." 

Her  voice  was  as  joyous  as  though  she  were  giv- 
ing her  an  invitation  into  paradise,  and  Maria 
helped  her  willingh'  about  the  work,  which  was 
begun  without  delay.  When  the  widow's  hands 
were  busy  her  tongue  could  not  remain  idle,  and 
her  curiosity  was  roused  not  a  little  by  what  might 
have  passed  between  Peter  and  his  young  wife. 

She  brought  the  conversation  round  cleverly 
enough  to  her  brother,  and  put  with  apparent  care- 
lessness the  question : 

"  Has  he  made  any  excuse  for  his  departure  on 
the  anniversary  of  your  wedding-day  V 

"  I  know  why  he  went;  he  was  obliged  to  go." 

"  Of  course,  of  course ;  but  goats  will  eat  what- 
ever  is  green.  One  must  not  overlook  too  much  in 
men.     Give,  but  also  take." 

"  I  do  not  wish  to  bargain  with  Peter,  and  even 
if  certain  things  did  weigh  upon  me,  I  have  been 
glad  to  forget  them  after  such  a  long  separation." 

"  Wet  hay  may  destro}-^  the  barn,  and  any  one  to 
wh(un  a  hare  runs  may  catch  him.  One  should  not 
keep  one's  troubles  to  one's  self,  but  out  with  them  ; 
that  is  what  one's  tongue  is  for,  and  yesterday  was 
the  time  to  make  a  clean  breast  of  all  that  was  dis- 
tressing you." 


1 13  TUE  B  UROOMASTEB  '8  WIFE. 

"  He  was  in  such  good  spirits  when  he  came ;  and 
besides,  wh^y  do  you  think  that  I  am  unhappy  T 

"Unhappy?  'Who  said  that  you  were  un- 
>liappy  ?" 

Maria  reddened,  but  the  widow  seized  the  knife 
and  opened  the  chicken  coop. 

Trautchen  was  helping  the  two  ladies,  but  she 
was  often  interrupted  in  her  work,  for  the  knocker 
on  the  front  door  was  given  no  peace  that  morning, 
and  the  visitors  must  have  brought  little  news  that 
was  pleasant  to  the  burgomaster,  for  his  deep, 
angry  voice  could  be  heard  at  times  even  in  the 
kitclien. 

He  was  longest  in  conference  with  Van  Hout, 
who  had  come  not  only  in  search  of  information 
and  to  bring  him  news,  but  also  as  complainant. 

It  was  no  common  sight  when  these  two  men, 
who  far  surpassed  their  townsmen  not  only  in 
stature  but  in  high  purpose  and  enthusiastic 
devotion  to  the  cause  of  freedom,  gave  in  turn  utter- 
ance to  their  opinions  and  common  expression  to 
their  indignation.  Van  Hout,  excitable,  restless, 
and  imaginative,  was  the  first  speaker,  Van  der 
Werff,  slow  and  calm,  the  second. 

Among  the  city  fathers,  the  rich  nobles,  the  great 
weavers  and  brewers,  reigned  a  bad  feeling,  for 
property,  life,  and  position  were  of  more  importance 
to  them  than  religion  and  freedom,  while  the  poor 
man,  who  painfully  maintained  his  family  hy  the 
sweat  of  his  brow,  was  resolved  and  glad  to  sacrifice 
all  for  the  good  cause. 

Difficulties  upon  difficulties  were  to  be  overcome. 
Scaffoldings  and  sheds,  frames  and  all  other  wood- 
work that  might  serve  as  a  place  of  concealment, 
were  to  be  torn  down,  as  all  the  countr^'^-houses  and 
other  buildings  near  the  town  had  formerly  been. 
Much  newly  erected  woodwork  had  already   been 


THE  B  URQOMASTEB  'S  WIFE.  1 13 

removed,  but  the  rich  men  held  out  the  longest 
against  having  the  ax  put  to  theirs.  Fresh  earth- 
works were  being  thrown  up  around  the  important 
fort  of  Vaikenburg;  but  part  of  the  land  where 
the  laborers  were  obliged  to  dig  belonged  to  a 
brevv^er,  and  he  demanded  a  large  sum  in  compensa- 
tion for  his  injured  meadow.  During  the  siege  that 
had  been  raised  in  March,  had  been  issued  paper 
money,  round  pieces  of  pasteboard  bearing  on  one 
side  the  lion  of  the  Netherlands  with  the  inscription, 
"  Haec  liheHatls  ergo  "  and  on  the  other  the  arms  of 
the  city  and  the  motto,  "  God  protect  Leyden." 
These  were  to  be  exchanged  for  coin  or  provisions, 
but  rich  speculators  had  bought  up  a  large  number 
of  these  pieces  and  were  endeavoring  to  put  up 
their  value.  Demands  of  every  description  poured 
in  upon  the  burgomaster  and,  added  to  all  this,  he 
had  to  think  of  his  own  affairs,  for  soon  all  com- 
munication with  the  outside  w^orld  might  be  cut  off, 
and  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  settle  many  things 
with  his  business  representative  in  Hamburg. 
Great  losses  were  threatened,  but  he  left  nothing 
undone  in  order  to  save  for  his  family  what  \vas 
■  still  to  be  saved. 

Wife  and  children  he  saw  but  seldom :  still  he 
thought  that  he  was  fulfilling  the  promise  Maria 
had  exacted  from  him  on  the  evening  of  his  return, 
when  he  answered  her  questions  briefly  or  made  of 
his  own  accord  such  remarks  as :  "  We  had  a  hot 
time  of  it  at  the  Kathhaus  to-day,"  or,  "  The 
exchange  of  the  paper  money  is  giving  more  trouble 
than  we  expected." 

He  felt  no  need  of  a  confidante,  and  his  first  wife 
had  been  perfectly  contented  and  happy  when  in 
his  leisure  moments  he  had  sat  quietly  beside  her, 
called  her  his  darling,  taken  pleasure  in  the  children, 
or  only   praised   her   waffles   and   Sunday   roasts. 


1 1 4  TUR  B UROOMASTER  'S  WIFE. 

Business  and  public  affairs  had  been  his  province, 
the  kitchen  and  the  nursery  hers.  What  they  had 
shareil,  was  the  consciousness  of  the  lovo  that  each 
vfelt  for  the  other,  the  children,  the  distinction,  the 
honors,  the  possessions  of  the  household, 

Maria  demanded  more,  and  he  was  willing  to 
grant  it  to  her,  but  when  in  the  evening  she  plied 
the  exhausted  man  with  questions  tliat  he  was 
accustomed  to  hear  only  from  the  lips  of  men,  he 
put  her  off  with  some  answer  about  hap])ier  days, 
or  even  fell  asleep  in  the  n)idst  of  her  inquiries. 

She  saw  how  much  was  weighing  upon  him,  how 
untiringly  he  labored — but  why  did  he  not  shift  a 
part  of  the  burden  upon  other  shoulders  ? 

Once,  when  the  weather  was  fine,  he  went  with 
her  into  the  country.  She  seized  the  opportunity 
to  impress  upon  him  that  he  owed  it  to  himself  and 
to  her  to  take  more  rest. 

He  listened  patiently,  and  when  she  had  ended 
her  entreaties  and  warnings,  he  took  her  hand  in 
his  and  said  : 

"You  have  met  Ilerr  Marnix  St.  Aldegronde 
and  know  what  the  cause  owes  to  him.  Do  you 
know  his  motto?"' 

She  nodded  and  answered  in  a  low  voice  :  ^'  J2epos 
ailleursJ^ 

"  Where  else  can  we  rest  ?"  he  returned  stead- 
fastly. 

A  slight  shudder  seized  her,  and  as  she  drew  her 
hand  away  she  could  not  but  think  :  "  Where  else  ? 
■ — not  here  it  seems.  Rest  and  happiness  have  no 
abiding  place  here."  She  did  not  speak  these  words 
aloud,  but  she  could  not  drive  them  from  her  mind. 


TEE  BUBOOM ASTER'S  WIFE.  115 


CHAPTER  XII/ 

Tw  ALL  the  quiet  Nobelstrasse,  the  Hoogstraten 
mansion  was  the  quietest  on  these  May  mornings. 
The  street  in  front  of  the  house  was  covered  witlia 
mixture  of  straw  and  sand  in  accordance  with  the 
orders  of  Doctor  Bontius  and  the  sick  lady's 
attorney.  The  windows  were  heavily  curtained, 
and  a  strip  of  felt  hung  between  the  knocker  and 
the  door.  The  door  was  ajar  and  behind  it  sat  a 
servant  ready  to  warn  those  who  sought  admission. 

On  a  morning  early  in  May,  the  musician  Wilhelm 
Corneliussohn  and  Janus  Dousa  turned  into  the 
Nobelstrasse.  Both  men  had  been  carr3'ing  on  a 
lively  conversation,  but  as  they  approached  the 
straw  and  sand,  their  voices  were  lowered,  and 
finally  silenced  altogether. 

"  The  carpet  that  is  spread  under  the  feet  of  the 
conqueror  Death,"  said  the  young  noble.  "  Let  us 
hope  that  he  will  lower  his  torch  but  once  here  and 
show  honor  to  age,  however  unworth}'^  of  honor  it 
may  be.  Do  not  stay  too  long  in  the  infected  house, 
Herr  Wilhelm." 

The  musician  softly  opened  the  door.  The 
servant  greeted  him  in  silence  and  went  toward  the 
stairs  to  call  Belotti ;  for  the  musician  had  already 
asked  more  than  once  for  the  steward. 

Wilhelm  entered  the  cabinet  where  he  was  accus- 
tomed to  wait,  and  for  the  first  time  found  there 
another  caller  in  a  somewhat  unusual  attitude. 
Erect,   but   with   his   head  fallen  to  one  side,  sat 


116  TUE  B  U ROOM  A  STER  'S  WIPE. 

Father  Damianus  in  an  armchair,  asleep.  The  face 
of  the  priest,  a  man  at  the  end  of  the  thirties,  was 
framed  by  a  tliin,  light  beard,  and  was  pink  and 
white  as  a  child's.  Around  the  large  tonsure  was  a 
small  fringe  of  thin,  light  hair  ;  in  the  hands  that 
were  sunk  in  the  sleeper's  lap  was  a  rosary  of  olive 
wood.  The  smile  that  played  about  his  half-open 
lips  was  kind  and  gentle. 

"  This  mild  saint  in  woman's  garb,"  thought 
Wilhelm,  "  does  not  look  as  though  he  could  take 
hold  with  energy,  and  yet  his  hands  j^ro  hard  and 
worn  with  work." 

When  JBelotti  entered  the  cabinet  and  caught 
sight  of  the  sleeping  priest,  he  carefully  placed  a 
pillow  under  his  head  and  motioned  to  Wilhelm  to 
follow  him  into  the  hall. 

"  Let  him  get  a  little  rest,"  said  the  Italian. 
"  From  yesterday  noon  until  two  hours  ago,  he  has 
been  sitting  at  tiie  padrona's  bedside.  Usually  she 
knows  nothing  of  what  is  going  on  around  her,  but 
as  soon  as  consciousness  returns  she  craves  religious 
consolation.  She  still  rejects  the  sacrament  for  the 
(lying,  for  she  will  not  admit  to  herself  that  she 
may  be  on  the  point  of  death.  At  times,  to  be  sure, 
when  the  pain  is  worse,  she  asks  in  mortal  terror 
whether  all  is  ready,  for  she  dreads  to  die  without 
extreme  unction." 

"And  how  is  Friiulein  Henrika  2" 

"  A  very  little  better. 

The  priest  stepped  out  from  the  cabinet.  Belotti 
kissed  his  hand  reverently  and  Wilhelm  made  a 
respectful  inclination. 

"  I  had  fallen  asleep,"  said  Father  Damianus 
simply  and  naturally,  but  not  in  as  powerful  and 
deep  a  voice  as  one  would  have  expected  from  his 
broad  chest  and  tall  iigure.  "  I  must  read  mass  now, 
visit  my  sick,  and  then  I  shall  return.  Have  you 
thought  better  of  your  resolve,  Belotti?" 


TEE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  117 

"  I  cannot,  Father,  the  Virgin  knows  I  cannot.  I 
was  given  my  dismissal  on  the  first  of  May ;  it  is 
now  the  eighth  and  I  am  still  here — I  haven't  left 
the  house  because  I  am  a  Christian!  Now  the  ladies 
are  attended  by  a  good  doctor,  Sister  Gonzaga  is  at 
her  post,  you  yourself  are  earning  a  place  among 
the  martyrs  in  paradise  by  your  devotion,  and  so  I 
can  pack  up  my  things  without  committing  a  crime." 

"  Do  not  go,  Belotti,"  said  the  priest  earnestly. 
"  And  if  you  still  hold  to  your  purpose  at  least  do 
not  call  yourself  a  Christian." 

"  You  will  stay,"  cried  Wilhelm,  "if  only  for  the 
sake  of  the  young  frjiulein,  toward  whom  you  still 
feel  kindly." 

Belotti  shook  his  head  and  answered  quietly  : 

"  You  can  add  nothing,  young  sir,  to  what  his 
reverence  said  to  me  last  nio^ht.  Mv  resolve  is  taken, 
I  am  going;  but  as  I  am  anxious  for  the  holy 
father's  good  opinion  and  for  yours,  I  beg  you  to 
honor  me  by  listening  to  me.  I  have  passed  my 
sixty-second  year,  and  an  old  horse  and  an  old  serv- 
ant stand  long  in  the  market  place  before  any  one 
buys  them.  In  Brussels  there  may  still  be  found  a 
place  for  a  Catholic  steward  who  understands  his 
business,  but  this  old  heart  longs  for  Naples  again — 
so  i)assionately,  so  passionately  !  You  have  seen  our 
blue  bay  and  our  skies,  young  sir,  and  I  long  for 
them  indeed,  but  still  more  for  smaller  things.  It 
is  a  pleasure  to  me  to  be  able  to  speak  my 
language  to  you,  Meister  Wilhelm,  and  you,  my 
Fatiier.  But  there  is  a  land  where  every  one  speaks 
as  i  do.  At  the  foot  of  Vesuvius  lies  a  little  town 
—many  a  one  would  be  afraid  to  stay  there  one  half 
hour,  when  the  mountain  rumbles,  when  ashes  come 
raining  down,  and  burning  lava  flows  in  streams. 
The  houses  are  by  no  means  as  well  built  and  the 
windows  do  not  shine  as  they  do  in  this  country.     In- 


1 1 8  TUB  B  UROOMASTER  'S  WIFE. 

deed,  I  fear  there  are  but  few  window  panes  in 
liesina,  but  the  children  suffer  no  more  from  the 
cold  than  they  do  here.  What  would  a  Leyden 
iiousewife  say  to  our  village  streets^  Poles  with 
g-rapevines,  branches  of  fig  trees,  and  bright-colored 
wash  on  the  roofs,  at  the  windows,  and  on  the 
crooked,  sloping  balconies.  Everything  grows  to- 
gether, higgledy-piggledy.  And  tiie  bids  in  their 
rag's,  which  no  tailor  has  mended  and  Datched,  climb 
among  the  white  walls  of  the  vineyards,  and  the 
little  girls,  whose  mothers  comb  their  hair  for  them 
on  the  doorsteps,  are  not  as  pink  and  white  and  as 
carefully  scrubbed  as  Dutch  ciiildren,  but  I  should 
like  to  see  the  brown-skinned,  black-haired  3'oung- 
sters  with  their  dark  eyes  once  more,  and  end  my 
days  amid  all  the  hubbub  in  the  warm  air  and 
witliout  care  or  work,  with  my  nephews  and  nieces 
and  blood-relations  around  me." 

The  old  man's  face  had  flushed  as  he  spoke,  and 
in  his  black  eyes  shone  a  lire  that  only  a  short  time 
before  had  seemed  extinguished  by  the  air  of  the 
north  and  his  long  servitude.  As  neither  tlie  priest 
nor  Wilhelni  made  an  immediate  reply  to  his  speech, 
he  went  on  more  composedly: 

Monseigneur  Gloria  is  going  to  Italy  and  I  am  to 
accompany  him  as  courier  to  Rome ;  from  there  I 
can  easily  reach  Naples,  and  on  the  interest  of  my 
savings  I  ean  live  there  free  from  care.  My  future 
master  starts  on  the  fifteenth,  and  on  the  twelfth  I 
must  be  in  Antwerp,  where  I  am  to  meet  him." 

The  eyes  of  tiie  priest  and  tiie  musician  met. 
Wilhelni  had  not  the  heart  to  dissuade  the  steward 
from  hib  purpose,  bat  Father  Damianus  collected 
himself,  laid  his  han(J  on  the  old  man's  shoulder, 
and  said : 

"  If  you  wait  here  a  few  weeks  longer,  Belotti, 
you  will  find  true  peace  ;  I  mean  the  peace  of  a  good 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFK.  119 

conscience.  To  those  who  are  faithful  unto  death 
is  promised  the  crown  of  life.  When  these  grievous 
times  are  over,  it  will  be  easy  to  help  you  on  your 
way  to  your  native  land.  We  shall  meet  again  at 
noon,  Belotti.  Should  my  assistance  be  necessary, 
send  for  me  ;  old  Ambrosius  will  know  where  to 
find  me.  God's  blessing  be  with  you,  and  with  you, 
too,  Herr  Wilhelm,  if  you  will  take  it  from  me." 

When  the  jniest  had  left  the  house,  the  steward 
said  with  a  sigh  : 

"  He  will  force  me  yet  to  do  his  will,  lie  mis- 
uses his  power  over  souls.  1  am  not  a  saint,  and 
what  he  asks  of  me " 

"  Is  what  is  right,"  said  Wilhelm  decidedly. 

"But  you  do  not  know  what  it  means  to  throw 
away,  like  cast-off  shoes,  the  dearest  hope  of  a  long, 
troubled  life.  And  for  whom,  I  ask  you,  for  whom  ? 
Do  you  know  my  padrona  ?  Oh,  sir,  I  have  learned 
things  in  this  house,  things  which  you  in  your 
vouth  would  not  believe  even  possible.  The  friiu- 
lein  has  made  an  impression  upon  you  !  Ami  right 
or  not  ?" 

"  You  are  mistaken,  Belotti." 

"  Is  it  true  ?  I  am  glad  for  your  sake,  for  you 
are  a  simple  musician,  and  the  signorina  bears  the 
name  of  Hoogstraten,  and  with  that  all  is  said. 
Do  you  know  the  friiulein's  father?" 

"No,  Belotti." 

"  What  a  race  !  what  a  race !  Did  you  ever  hear 
the  story  of  our  signorina's  eldest  sister  f 

"  llenrika  has  an  elder  sister?" 

"  Yes,  sir ;  and  when  I  think  of  her — I  imagine 
the  signorina,  the  signorina  herself,  only  taller,  more 
stately,  more  beautiful." 

"Isabella!"  cried  the  musician  ;  a  suspicion  that 
had  arisen  in  his  mind  since  his  talk  with  Henrika 
seemed  to  be  confirmed  j  he  grasped  the  steward's 


1 20  TUE  D  UROOMASTER  '8  WIFE. 

arm  so  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  that  the  old 
man  drew  back. 

''  What  do  you  know  of  her?"  he  went  on  excit- 
edly.    "  I  beg  of  you,  Belotti,  tell  me  all," 

The  servant  glanced  toward  the  stairs  and 
answered  with  a  shake  of  his  head : 

"  You  must  be  mistaken  ;  there  never  was  an  Isa- 
bella in  this  family  to  my  knowledge  ;  but  I  shall  be 
glad  to  place  myself  at  your  service,  Keturn  at 
dusk,  but  you  must  not  expect  a  cheerful  story," 

Twilight  had  scarcelj"^  given  way  to  darkness 
■when  the  musician  returned  to  the  Hoogstraten 
mansion. 

The  cabinet  was  empty,  but  he  had  not  long  to 
wait  for  Belotti. 

The  old  man  placed  a  tray  with  a  flask  of  wine 
and  a  ghiss  on  the  table  near  the  lamp,  and  after 
informing  Wilhehn  of  the  invalid's  condition,  led 
him  witli  marked  politeness  to  a  seat.  When  the 
musician  asked  liiiii  why  he  had  not  brought  a  glass 
for  himself,  he  answered  : 

"  I  drink  only  water,  but  allow  me  to  take  the 
liberty  of  sitting  down.  The  servant  who  attends 
to  the  chambers  has  left  the  house,  and  I  have 
been  running  up  and  down  stairs  all  day.  It  has 
tired  my  old  legs,  and  there  is  little  prospect  of  a 
quiet  night," 

A  single  taper  lighted  the  room.  Belotti,  who 
was  leaning  far  back  in  his  chair,  unfolded  his 
clasped  hands  and  began  slowly : 

"I  was  speaking  this  morning  of  the  Hoogstraten 
blood.  Children  of  the  same  parents  are  often 
unlike,  but  in  your  little  country  which  has  its  own 
language  and  also  possesses  much  that  is  character- 
istic— you  will  not  deny  it — each  ancient  family  has 
its  peculiar  traits,  1  know  it,  for  I  have  been 
in.    many    noble   houses    in   Holland.     Each   race 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  li>l 

has  its  peculiar  ways.  Even  where — with  your 
permission — there  is  insanity  in  the  family,  it  sel- 
dom appears  in  one  member  alone.  My  mistress 
has  more  of  her  French  motlier's  nature.  But  I 
was  to  speak  of  the  signorina  and  1  am  getting  too 
far  from  my  subject." 

"  No,  Belotti,  by  no  means  ;  there  is  time  enough, 
and  I  like  to  listen  to  you,  but  you  must  tlrst  answer 
one  question." 

"Eh,  sir,  how  your  cheeks  burn!  Did  you  hap- 
pen to  meet  the  signorina  in  Italy  ?" 

"  Perhaps,  Belotti." 

"  Oh,  then,  yes,  to  be  sure  !  Any  one  who  has 
once  seen  her  does  not  forget  her  easily.  What  is 
it  that  you  wish  to  know?" 

"  Tlie  lady's  name,  first  of  all." 

"  Anna." 

"  And  not  Isabella  also  ?" 

"  No,  sir,  she  was  never  called  anything  but 
Anna." 

"  And  when  did  she  leave  Holland  ?" 

"  Wait ;  it  was — it  was  four  years  ago  last 
Easter." 

"'  Is  she  dark  or  fair  ?" 

"I  have  just  said  that  she  looked  exactly  like 
Fraulein  Ilenrika.  But  what  lady  might  not  be 
dark  or  fair?  I  think  we  shall  get  to  the  point 
sooner  if  you  will  allow  me  to  ask  you  a  question. 
Did  the  lady  you  refer  to  have  a  large,  semicircular 
scar  just  below  the  hair,  in  the  very  middle  of  her 
forehead  ?" 

"  Enough  !"  cried  Wilhelm,  rising  hastil}'".  "When 
a  child  she  fell  on  one  of  her  father's  weapons." 

"  The  other  way  sir,  the  handle  of  Jonker  van 
Hoogstraten's  pistol  fell  upon  his  daughter's  fore- 
head. How  horror-stricken  you  look  !  Mein  Goft ! 
I  have  seen  more  than  that  in  this  house.     But  it  is 


122  TUB  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

my  turn  now  :  In  what  city  in  my  native  land  did 
you  meet  the  signorina  ?" 

"In  Rome,  alone  and  under  an  assumed  name. 
Isabella— a  girl  of  Dutch  descent.  Go  on  with  your 
story,  Belotti,  I  entreat  you.  I  will  not  interrupt 
you  agahi.  What  had  the  child  done  that  her  own 
fathe? '^ 

"  Of  all  the  mad  Iloogstratens,  the  jonker  is  the 
maddest.  In  Italy  you  liave  perhaps  seen  men  like 
him,  but  you  might  search  in  vain  for  such  a  whirl- 
wind in  tliis  country.  You  must  not  think  him  an 
evilly  disposed  man  on  this  account,  but  a  word  or  a 
look  that  does  not  please  him  drives  him  to  madness 
and  he  does  things  that  he  regrets  as  soon  as  they 
are  done.  As  for  the  signorina's  scar,  she  came  by 
it  in  this  wise.  She  was  still  a  child  and  had  no 
business  to  meddle  with  firearms,  but  she  did  so, 
nevertheless,  as  often  as  she  could,  and  one  day  the 
pistol  went  off  and  the  ball  struck  one  of  the  best 
hunting-dogs.  The  jonker  heard  the  report  and 
when  he  saw  the  animal  lying  on  the  ground  and 
the  pistol  at  the  little  friiulein's  feet,  he  picked  up 
the  weapon  and  struck  her  with  the  sharp-edged 
handle." 

"  A  child,  his  own  daughter !"  cried  Wilhelm 
angrily. 

"There  are  different  kinds  of  men,"  continued 
Belotti.  "  Some,  and  you  are  one  of  these,  consider 
carefully  before  they  speak  or  act ;  others  consider 
long,  and,  when  they  are  done  considering,  one  hears 
a  great  many  words,  but  it  seldom  comes  to  action  ; 
others  still,  and  at  the  head  of  them  is  the  Hoog 
straten  race,  i)ile  deed  upon  deed,  and  if  they  con- 
sider at  all,  it  is  only  after  the  deed  is  done.  If  they 
find  that  they  have  done  wrong,  their  pride  prevents 
tiieir  admitting  it,  repairing  it,  or  recalling  it.  So 
one  calamity  follows  upon  another,  but  it  does  not 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  123 

trouble  them  and  it  is  soon  forgotten,  what  with  wine 
and  plav%  the  joust  and  the  hunt.  Debts  there  are 
a  plenty,  but  worrying  is  left  to  the  creditors,  and 
for  the  sons  to  whom  no  inheritance  falls,  there  can 
be  found  a  place  at  court  or  in  the  army;  for  the 
daughters,  if  the}'^  belong  to  our  faith,  there  is  no 
lack  of  convents,  thank  God,  and  for  both  there  is 
hope  of  rich  aunts  and  otlier  relations  dying  without 
issue." 

"  You  speak  forcibly." 

"But  trul}',  none  the  less,  and  every  word  applies 
to  the  jonker  ;  he,  indeed,  had  no  need  to  make  any 
provision  for  sons,  for  his  wife  did  not  present  him 
with  any.  He  met  his  wife  at  the  court  in  Brussels, 
and  she  came  from  Parma." 

"Did  you  know  her?" 

"  She  died  before  I  entered  the  padrona's  service. 
The  two  young  ladies  grew  up  without  any  mother. 
You  have  heard  that  the  jonker  could  lay  violent 
hands  even  on  them,  but  he  seemed  to  love  them 
nevertheless,  and  could  never  make  up  his  mind  to 
place  them  in  a  convent.  At  times,  however,  he 
felt — as  he  readily  admitted  in  conversations  with 
the  excellenza — that  there  might  he  a  more  fittino: 
place  for  a  young  noblewoman  to  grow  up  in  than 
his  castle,  where  things  were  in  a  bad  way,  and  so  at 
last  he  sent  his  eldest  daughter  to  us.  My  mistress 
had  never  been  able  to  endure  young  girls,  but  Frau- 
lein  Anna  was  one  of  her  nearest  relatives,  and  I 
know  that  she  invited  her  of  her  own  accord.  I  can 
still  see  before  me  the  3'oung  signorina  of  sixteen.  I 
have  never  laid  eyes  on  a  sweeter  creature,  Ilerr 
Wilhelm,  before  or  since,  and  yet  she  was  never  the 
same.  I  have  seen  her  as  soft  as  Flemish  velvet,  but 
at  other  times  she  could  rage  and  storm  like  the  No- 
vember 'ijales  in  vour  countrv.  She  was  always  as 
fair  as  a  rose,  and  since  her  mother  camarista,  who 


124  THE  DUROOMASTER'8  WIFE. 

had  brought  her  up,  was  from  Lugano,  and  the  priest 
who  tanght  her  was  from  Pisa  and  was  recog- 
nized as  a  fine  musician,  she  spoke  my  native  tongue 
like  a  child  of  Tuscany  and  was  thoroughly  familiar 
with  music.  You  liave  doubtltss  heard  her  sing  and 
play  on  the  harp  and  lute,  but  you  must  have  know 
that  all  the  ladies  of  tlie  lloogstraten  family,  with 
the  exception  of  my  mistress,  have  a  special  talent 
for  your  art.  In  the  summer  we  used  to  live  in  the 
fine  country  house  that  was  torn  down — witli  little 
riglit,  in  m}^  opinion — by  your  friends,  before  the 
siege.  Much  noble  comj^any  used  to  ride  out  to  us. 
We  kept  open  house,  and  wherever  a  good  table  and 
a  young  lady  as  beautiful  as  our  signorina  are  to  be 
found  cavaliers  are  not  lacking.  Among  them  was 
a  very  distinguished  gentleman  of  middle  age,  the 
Marquis  d'Avennes,  to  whom  the  excellenza  had 
given  a  special  invitation.  AVe  never  received  any 
prince  with  greater  attention  than  we  did  him. 
Naturallv,  for  his  mother  was  a  relative  of  the  ex- 
cellenza.*^  You  must  know  that  my  mistress  is  of 
Norman  origin  on  her  mother's  side.  The  Marquis 
d'Avennes  was  certainly  a  line  cavalier,  but  much 
more  elegant  than  manly,  lie  was  soon  inadly  in 
love  with  Friiulein  Anna  and  sued  for  her  hand  in 
due  form.  The  excellenza  favored  the  marriage  and 
the  jonker  said  simply:  '  You  must  take  him.'  He 
would  listen  to  no  opposition.  Nor  do  most  nobles 
wait  long  for  their  daughters'  consent  when  a  fitting 
suitor  appears.  So  the  signorina  became  the  mar- 
quis' betrothed,  but  the  pa(irona  said  decidedly  that 
her  niece  was  still  too  young  to  be  married.  At  that 
time  she  had  the  jonker  completely  under  her  con- 
trol and  made  him  agree  to  postpone  the  wedding 
until  Easter.  The  outfit  was  to  be  prepared  during 
the  winter.  The  condition  that  he  must  wait  six 
months  was  imposed  on  the  marquis  and  he  went 


TEE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  125 

back  to  France  with  the  ring  on  his  finger.  His 
betrothed  shed  no  tears  for  him  and,  as  soon  as  he 
was  gone,  she  tossed  the  betrothal  ring  into  her 
jewel  case,  in  the  presence  of  the  camarista,  from 
whom  1  heard  it.  She  dared  not  oppose  her  father, 
but  she  did  not  withhold  from  the  excellenza  her 
opinion  of  the  marquis,  and  her  aunt,  although  she 
favored  the  Frenchman's  suit,  indulged  her  in  it. 
On  the  other  hand,  hot  words  often  passed  between 
the  two,  and  if  the  padrona  had  reason  for  clipping 
the  wings  of  the  wild  falcon  and  for  teaching  the 
young  girl  what  was  becoming  to  ladies  of  noble 
birth,  the  signorina  was  also  justified  in  complaining 
of  many  demands  with  which  the  excellenza  spoiled 
her  pleasure  in  life.  I  am  sorry,  meister,  to  disturb 
your  youthful  confidence,  but  if  a  man  keeps  his 
eyes  open  as  he  grows  gray,  he  meets  many  people 
who  take  pleasure  in  injuring  other  people,  nay,  find 
it  a  necessity.  At  the  same  time  it  is  a  comfort  to 
me  that  no  one  is  wicked  for  the  sake  of  being 
wicked  ;  indeed,  1  have  often  found  that  the  worst 
impulses — how  shall  I  express  it? — that  the  worst 
impulses  often  come  from  the  perversion  or  perhaps 
only  from  an  excessive  exercise  of  the  noblest  vir- 
tues, whose  reverse  or  caricature  they  are.  From 
laudable  ambition  comes  degrading  envy,  from 
honorable  emulation  contemptible  avarice,  from 
tender  passion  fierce  hatred.  My  mistress,  when  she 
was  young,  knew  how  to  love  deeply  and  truly,  but 
she  was  shamefully  deceived  and  now  she  is  pos- 
sessed by  hatred  not  only  against  one  person,  but 
against  the  whole  world,  and  out  of  her  noble  fidel- 
ity has  grown  her  obstinate  clinging  to  evil  desires. 
What  I  mean  by  this  and  how  it  has  come  about, 
you  shall  hear,  if  you  will  listen  to  me  further. 

"  As  winter  approached,  I  was  ordered  to  precede 
the  family  to  Brussels  and   there   to  start  a  new 


126  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

establishment  on  a  splendid  scale.  The  ladies 
followed  shorLlv.  It  was  four  vears  ago.  Duke 
Alva  was  still  ruling  as  viceroy  in  Brussels;  and 
tkis  great  gentleman  thought  most  highly  of  my 
mistress  and  even  did  us  the  honor  to  visit  us  twice. 
His  most  distinguished  officers  came  and  went  at 
our  house.  Among  them  was  Don  Luis  d'Avila, 
a  nobleman  of  ancient  family  and  one  of  the  duke's 
favorites.  Like  the  marquis,  he  was  no  longer  in 
his  first  youth,  but  he  was  of  very  different  caliber  ; 
a  man  whose  tall  figure  seemed  cast  in  steel,  a 
swordsman  of  invincible  strength  and  skill,  and  the 
most  dreaded  of  all  duelists,  whose  passionate  eyes 
and  wonderful  voice  must  have  had  a  mysterious 
fascination  for  women.  \n  the  servants'  hall,  stories 
by  the  dozen  were  told  of  his  adventures  and  half 
of  them  approached  the  truth  ;  this  I  learned  by 
experience  later  on.  If  you  think  that  this  breaker 
of  hearts  looked  like  the  gay,  curly-haired  favorites 
of  fortune  to  whom  young  ladies  run  with  their 
hearts  in  their  hands,  you  are  mistaken  ;  Don  Luis 
was  a  grave  man  with  u  pale  complexion  and  closely 
cropped  hair ;  he  never  wore  anything  but  dark 
clothes,  and  even  carried  a  sword  the  hilt  of  which 
was  of  some  dark  metal  instead  of  gold  and  silver. 
lie  looked  fai-  more  like  Death  than  Love.  Perhaps 
it  was  this  very  thing  that  made  him'  irresistible, 
for  we  are  all  born  for  death  and  no  wooer  is  so 
sure  of  victory  as  he. 

''  The  paih'ona  was  not  favorably  inclined  to  him 
at  first,  but  this  soon  changed,  and  by  New  Years 
he  was  invited  even  to  her  small  evening  receptions. 
He  came  as  often  as  he  was  asked,  but  fur  oui- 
young  friiulein  he  had  not  a  word,  a  look,  scarcely 
a  greeting.  Only  when  the  signorina  began  to 
sing  did  he  approach  her  to  critjcise  sharply  what 
had  displeased  him  in  her  execution.     At  times  he 


THE  B  URGOMA  STEB  'S  WIFE.  127 

sang  himself  and  he  usually  selected  the  same  songs 
as  though  to  outdo  her  by  his  superior  skill. 

"So  things  went  on  until  Carnival.  On  Shrove 
Tuesday  the  padrona  gave  a  grand  banquet  and  as 
I  directed  the  servants  in  attendance  and  was  stand- 
ing behind  the  signorina  and  Don  Luis,  whom  the 
padrona  had  for  some  time  been  in  the  habit  of 
placing  beside  her  niece,  I  noticed  that  their  hands 
had  met  under  the  table  and  remained  clasped  a 
long  time.  My  heart  was  so  heavy  that  it  was  hard 
for  me  to  pay  the  attention  necessary  on  such  an 
occasion — and  when  I  was  summond  the  following- 
morning  to  the  padrona  to  render  m}^  accounts,  I 
considered  it  my  duty  to  remark  discreetly  to  her 
that  Don  Luis  d'Avila's  suit  did  not  seem  to  dis- 
please the  young  fraulein  in  spite  of  her  betrothal. 
She  let  me  speak,  but  when  I  ventured  to  repeat 
what  was  said  about  the  Spaniard,  she  started 
up  angrily  and  pointed  to  the  door.  A  faithful 
servant  hears  and  sees  much  more  than  the  masters 
and  mistresses  suspect,  and  I  enjoyed  the  confidence 
of  the  padrona's  foster-sister,  who  is  now  no  more  ; 
but  at  that  time  Susanna  knew  all  that  concerned 
her  mistress. 

"  The  prospects  of  the  future  bridegroom  in  France 
were  bad,  for  when  the  padrona  spoke  of  him  it 
was  with  a  laugh  that  we  knew,  and  that  boded  no 
good ;  but  she  wrote  very  often  notwithstanding, 
to  the  marquis  and  his  mother,  and  many  letters 
came  to  us  from  Eochebrun.  To  be  sure,  the 
excellenza  also  granted  more  than  one  secret 
audience  to  Don  Luis. 

"  During  Lent  came  a  messenger  from  the  jonker 
with  the  news  that  on  Easter  day  he  and  the  mar- 
quis would  be  in  Brussels,  and  on  Holy  Thursday 
I  received  orders  to  have  the  private  chapel  adorned 
with  flowers,  to  secure  post  horses,  and  to  do  other 


128  THE  B  UROOMASTER  \S  WIFE. 

things.  On  Good  Friday,  the  day  of  our  Lord's 
crucifixion — I  would  tliat  1  were  telling  lies — on 
Good  Friday  the  signorina  was  decked  betimes  in 
her  bridal  robes.  Don  Luis  appeared  clad  in  black, 
proud  and  somber  as  ever,  and  before  sunrise,  by 
candlelight  on  a  cold  and  damp  morning — it  seems 
as  though  it  had  all  happened  yesterday — the  Cas- 
tilian  -vvas  married  to  our  young  friiulein.  The 
padrona,  a  Spanish  officer,  and  I  were  the  witnesses. 
At  seven  o'clock  the  carriage  drove  up  and  when  it 
was  packed  Don  Luis  gave  me  a  small  box  to  place 
in  the  carriage.  It  was  heavy  and  I  knew  it  well; 
the  padrona  was  accustomed  to  keep  her  gold  coin 
in  it.  On  Easter  da}^  the  whole  town  knew  that 
Don  Luis  d'Avilahad  carried  off  the  beautiful  Anna 
van  Hoogstraten  and  had  killed  in  a  duel  at  Halle 
her  betrothed,  as  he  was  on  his  way  to  Brussels,  on 
Holy  Thursday — scarcely  twenty-four  hours  be- 
fore the  wedding. 

"  I  shall  never  forget  how  the  jonker  raged  on  his 
arrival.  The  padrona  refused  to  see  him  and  gave 
out  that  she  was  ill,  but  she  was  as  well  as  she 
could  be  iu  these  latter  years." 

"And  can  you  explain  your  mistress'  mysterious 
conduct?"  asked  Wilhelm. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  her  reasons  are  plain  as  day.  But  it 
is  growing  late,  and  I  must  hurry  ;  indeed,  I  know 
little  about  the  details,  for  I  was  still  a  child  myself 
when  it  hap})ened.  But  Susanna  has  told  me  much 
that  is  Avell  worth  repeating.  The  excellenza's 
mother  was  a  Chevreaux,  and  my  mistress  passed 
the  best  years  of  her  life  with  her  mother's  sister, 
who  spent  the  winters  in  Paris.  It  was  at  the  time 
of  the  blessed  King  Francis,  and  you  know  that 
this  great  prince  was  a  gallant  gentleman  and  a  bold 
knight,  of  whom  it  was  said  that  he  had  broken  as 
many  hearts  as    lances.    My  padrona,  who   was 


TBE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  1^9 

beautiful  then,  was  one  of  the  ladies  of  his  court 
and  King  Francis  distinguished  her  among  many. 
But  the  fritulein  knew  how  to  guard  her  honor,  for 
she  had  early  found  a  cavalier  in  the  gallant  Mar- 
quis d'Avennes,  to  whom  she  was  devoted  and  for 
whom  she  wept  many  bitter  tears ;  for  like  master 
like  man,  and  although  the  marquis  wore  her  colors 
for  five  years  and  paid  his  decoir  to  her  like  a  true 
knight,  his  eyes  and  heart  wandered  constantly 
from  one  to  another.  He  always  returned  to  his 
lady,  however,  and  when  the  sixth  year  came  round, 
the  Chevreaux  urged  the  marquis  to  make  an  end  of 
his  trifling  and  to  think  of  marriage.  Mv  mistress 
began  to  prepare  her  outfit,  and  Susanna  was  a  wit- 
ness of  how  she  consulted  wMth  the  marquis  as  to 
whether  she  sliould  sell  or  keep  the  properties  and 
castles  in  the  Netherlands.  But  the  marriage  still 
did  not  come  off,  for  the  marquis  was  obliged  to  go 
with  the  aruiy  to  Italy  and  tlie  friiulein  lived  in  a 
state  of  constant  anxiety  about  him ;  at  that  time  it 
went  ill  witli  the  French  in  my  country,  and  the 
marcjuis  often  kept  her  waiting  months  for  news. 
At  last  he  came  home  and  found  in  the  Chevreaux's 
house  the  friiulein's  little  cousin  grown  into  a 
beautiful  girl.  The  remainder  you  can  guess.  The 
bud,  Hortense,  pleased  the  marquis  better  than  the 
full-blown  flower.  The  Chevreaux  were  noble,  but 
deeply  in  debt,  and  the  suitor,  while  he  was  fighting 
in  Ital}',  had  fallen  heir  to  his  uncle's  large  property, 
and  so  he  did  not  sue  in  vain.  My  mistress  returned 
to  Holland.  The  jonker's  father  challenged  the 
marquis,  but  no  blood  was  spilled  in  the  duel,  and 
Marquis  d'Avennes  lived  happily  with  Hortense 
de  Chevreaux.  Her  son  was  the  signorina's  ill- 
fated  betrothed.  Do  you  understand,  Herr  Wil- 
helm?  During  half  her  life  my  mistress  had 
cherished  this  hatred  ;  to  satisfy  it  her  own  kin  was 


130  TEE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

sacrificed  to  Don  Luis,  but  in  this  way  she  repaid 
the  hated  mother,  by  the  death  of  her  only  son,  for 
the  anguish  that  she  had  endured  for  years  through 

The  musician  rolled  into  a  ball  the  handkerchief 
with  which  he  had  wipe<l  his  forehead  and  asked 
dully: 

"  What  else  have  you  heard  about  Anna?" 

"  Little,''  answered  Belotti.  ''  The  jonker  tore 
her  from  his  heart  and  calls  Ilenrika  his  only 
daughter.  Happiness  forsakes  those  upon  whom  a 
father's  curse  rests,  and  the  signorina  assuredly  has 
not  found  it.  Don  Luis  was  said  to  have  been 
degraded  to  the  rank  of  sub-lieutenant  because  of 
some  mad  escapade.  And  who  knows  what  has 
become  of  the  poor,  beautiful  signorina?  The 
padrona  sends  her  money  fi-oni  time  to  time  through 
iSignor  Lamperi  by  way  of  Florence,  but  lately  I 
have  heard  nothing  about  it." 

"  One  more  question,  Belotti,"  said  "Wilhelra. 
"  How  could  the  jonker  entrust  Henrika  to  \'our 
mistress,  after  what  happened  to  his  elder 
daughter  ?" 

"  Money,  accursed  money  !  To  keep  his  castle 
and  not  to  lose  the  inheritance  he  gave  up  his  child. 
The  signorina  was  bargained  for  as  a  horse  might 
be,  and  the  jonker  did  not  part  with  her  cheaph'. 
Drink,  sir,  for  you  look  ill." 

"  It  is  nothing,"  answered  Wilhelm,  "  but  the 
fresh  air  will  do  me  good.  My  thanks  for  your 
story,  Belotti.'' 


THE  B  UmOMASTER  '8  WIFE.  131 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  16th  of  May  the  burgo- 
master's wife  was  making  an  inspection  of  cup- 
boards and  presses.  Her  husband  had  gone  to  the 
Rathhaus,  but  before  going  he  had  told  her  that  in 
the  evening  the  representative  of  the  prince,  Herr 
Dietrich  van  Bronlchorst,  the  two  seigneurs  of 
Nordwyk,  the  clerk  of  the  council,  Van  Hout,  and 
some  other  prominent  men  of  the  city  and  friends 
of  liberty,  were  to  meet  at  bis  house  in  secret  con- 
ference. Maria  was  to  provide  a  generous  repast, 
wine,  etc.,  for  the  gentlemen's  entertainment. 

This  request  had  an  enlivening  and  cheering  effect 
upon  the  young  wife.  She  was  delighted  to  be  able 
to  play  the  hostess  in  the  sense  in  which  it  was  re- 
garded in  her  parents'  house.  How  long  it  had  been 
denied  her  to  be  present  at  a  discussion  of  serious 
and  weighty  import.  She  had  no  lack  of  visitors — 
the  friends  and  relatives  of  her  husband's  family 
who  called  upon  her  and  Barbara  begged  her  often 
enough  to  come  and  see  them,  but  although  there 
were  many  among  them  who  showed  themselves 
kindly  disposed  toward  her,  and  whom  she  could  not 
help  respecting  for  their  excellence,  there  was  no 
one  toward  whom  she  was  drawn  with  any  degree 
of  affection.  Yes,  Maria,  whose  life  was  not  crowded 
with  distractions,  shrank  from  their  coming,  and 
when  they  were  there  she  bore  their  presence  as  an 
unavoidable  evil.  Tlie  worthy  matrons  w^ere  all 
much  older  than  she,  and  when  they  sat  over  their 


132  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

cakes,  stewed  fruits  and  mulled  wine,  spinning, 
knitting  and  netting,  talked  of  the  evil  days  of  the 
siege,  of  the  care  of  children  and  the  worries  with 
sei'vants,  of  washing  and  soap-making,  or  ciiticised 
severely  the  many  incorapreliensible  but  never-to-be- 
sanctioned  things  that  other  women  liad  done,  were 
doing  or  were  about  to  do,  the  heart  of  tiie  burgo- 
master's wife  grew  heavy,  and  her  solitary  room 
always  seemed  to  her  at  such  times  a  quiet  haven  of 
refuge. 

Only  when  they  spoke  of  the  country's  necessity 
and  of  the  sacred  duty  of  enduring  for  the  cause,  a 
second  time  if  necessary,  miseries  of  every  descrij)- 
tion,  did  she  become  talkative  and  listen  gladly  to 
the  plain-spoken  women  who,  it  was  easy  to  see, 
were  earnest  in  what  thev  said  :  but  when  idle 
gossip  went  on  for  hours,  it  caused  her  actual  pain. 
She  could  not  escape,  however,  and  had  to  endure 
it  until  the  last  one  had  departed  ;  for  after  she  had 
attempted  to  withdraw  early  on  several  occasions, 
i3arbara  had  warned  her  kindly  against  it,  and  did 
not  hide  from  her  that  she  had  found  it  a  difficult 
task  to  defend  her  against  the  accusation  of  pride 
and  incivility. 

There  was  one  woman  in  Leyden  of  whom  the 
burgomaster's  wife  was  sincerely  fond.  This  was 
Frau  van  Hout,  wife  of  the  clerk  of  the  council,  but 
she  was  seldom  to  be  seen,  for  although  she  was 
delicate  and  distinguished  in  appearance,  she  was 
obliged  to  bestir  herself  from  morning  till  night,  so 
as  to  keep  her  children  and  household  in  good  con- 
dition on  a  narrow  income. 

Happier  and  brighter  than  she  had  been  for  many 
days,  Maria  api)roached  the  sideboard,  where  was 
set  out  the  table  service,  und  the  cupboard  where 
the  silver  was  kept.  Everything  of  value  that  the 
house  possessed  was  set  forth,  shining  and  spotless, 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  133 

on  white,  lace-trimmed,  linen  cloths.  She  selected 
what  she  needed,  but  much  of  the  china  and  glass 
did  not  suit  her;  for  they  did  not  match,  had  been 
carelessly  replaced,  and  many  pieces  were  chipped 
and  cracked. 

When  her  mother  had  begun  to  get  together  her 
wedding  outfit,  Peter  had  expressed  the  wish  that 
in  such  hard  times  the  money  might  be  saved  and 
no  useless  purchases  made.  Of  household  articles 
of  every  description  there  was  a  superfluity  in  his 
home,  and  he  w^ould  have  thought  it  wrong  to  pur- 
chase so  much  as  a  plate.  In  truth,  there  was 
nothing  lacking  on  the  sideboard  or  in  the  cup- 
boards, but  she  had  not  chosen  the  things  herself ; 
they  belonged  to  her  in  a  waj^  but  not  altogether, 
and  the  worst  of  it  was  that  her  eyes,  accustomed  to 
prettier  things,  could  find  no  pleasure  in  the  dull, 
marred  pewter  plates,  the  jugs,  cups,  and  tankards 
decorated  with  crude  figures  in  glaring  colors. 
Neither  was  the  coarse  glassware  to  her  taste,  and, 
as  she  looked  it  over  and  selected  what  w^as 
necessary,  she  could  not  help  thinking  of  her  newly 
married  friends  who  had  shown  her  with  shining 
eyes  their  brand-new  household  furnishings  with  as 
much  pride  and  happiness  as  though  every  article 
were  their  own  laborious  handiwork.  But  even  with 
what  she  had,  she  was  able  to  set  out  the  table 
prettily  and  daintily. 

She  and  Adi'ian  had  gathered  flowers  in  the 
garden  by  the  city  wall  and  picked  delicate  grasses 
in  the  meadows  outside  the  gate.  These  she 
arranged  tastefully  in  vases,  and  she  was  delighted 
when  even  the  coarsest  jars  were  made  to  look 
attractive  with  the  vines  that  she  had  entwined 
about  them.  Adrian  gazed  at  her  in  amazement. 
He  would  not  have  been  surprised  if,  under  her 
fingers,  the  sonib(ir  dining-room  had  been  trans- 
formed into  a  hail  of  crystal  and  pearl. 


134  THE  BUROOMASTKR'S  WIFE. 

When  the  table  was  laid  Peter  came  home  for  a 
moment.  Before  his  guests  arrived  he  intended  to 
ride  out  to  Valkenburg  with  Captain  Allertssohn, 
elanus  Dousa,  and  others  to  take  a  look  at  the  for- 
tifications. As  he  passed  through  the  dining-room 
he  waved  his  hand  to  his  wife  and  said,  with  a 
glance  at  the  table  : 

"  These  decorations  were  not  necessary,  least  of 
all  the  flowers.  AVe  are  to  hold  a  serious  conference 
and  you  have  decked  the  table  for  a  wedding-feast." 

He  saw  that  Maria's  head  sunk  and  adding 
pleasantly  :  "  Let  it  remain  as  it  is,  as  far  as  I  am 
concerned,"  he  left  the  room. 

Maria  remained  standing  irresolutely  before  her 
work.  Bitter  feelings  began  to  stir  within  her  again 
and  she  had  already  stretched  out  her  hand  toward 
one  of  the  most  prettily  arranged  vases,  wlien 
Adrian  raised  his  eyes  to  hers  and  said  beseecliingly  : 

"  No,  mother,  you  must  not  do  that ;  it  looks  too 
beautiful." 

Maria  smiled,  passed  her  hand  over  the  lad's  curls, 
and  taking  two  cakes  from  a  dish,  gave  them  to 
him,  saying : 

"  One  is  for  you  and  one  for  Lieschen  ;  we  will 
let  the  flowers  stay." 

Adrian  ran  out  with  the  cakes,  but  Maria  gave 
another  look  at  the  table  and  thought  to  iierself : 

"Peter  never  wants  anything  but  what  is 
necessary  ;  but  surely  that  is  not  all,  or  the  dear 
Lord  would  have  made  all  birtls  with  gray  feathers." 

When  she  had  helped  Barbara  in  the  kitclien,  she 
went  to  her  room.  Tliei'e  she  arranged  her  hair, 
put  a  freshly  starched  ruff  about  her  neck  and  care- 
fully plaited  lace  in  the  low  neck  of  her  gown,  but 
kept  on  her  house-dress,  since  her  husband  dicl  not 
wish  to  give  a  festive  air  to  the  meeting  in  his 
house. 


TnE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  I35 

Just  as  she  had  placed  the  last  gold  pin  in  her 
hair  and  was  debating  whether  the  place  of  honor 
should  be  given  to  Herr  van  Bronkhorst,  as  repre- 
sentative of  the  prince,  or  to  the  venerable  Herr  von 
Nordwyk,  Trautchen  knocked  at  the  door  and  in- 
formed her  that  Doctor  Bontius  desired  to  speak 
with  tlie  burgomaster  on  a  matter  of  pressing  im- 
portance. The  maid  had  told  the  doctor  that  her 
master  had  ridden  out  of  the  city,  and  he  had  asked 
to  speak  with  her  mistress. 

Maria  went  at  once  to  Peter's  study.  The  phy- 
sician was  evidentl}'^  in  a  hurry.  Without  any  other 
salutation  he  raised  the  gokl  knob  of  his  walking- 
stick  to  his  peaked  black  hat,  which  was  never 
removed  from  his  head  even  at  the  bedside  of  a 
patient,  and  asked  shortly  and  hurriedly  : 

"  When  will  Meister  Peter  return  ?"  " 

"  In  an  hour,"  answered  Maria.  "  Sit  down, 
doctor." 

"  Another  time.  T  cannot  wait  for  your  hus- 
band. Besides  you  can  come  with  me  without  his 
consent." 

"  Doubtless ;  but  we  are  expecting  guests." 

"  True.  If  I  have  time  I  shall  come  too.  The 
gentlemen  can  get  on  very  well  without  me,  but 
you  are  necessary  to  the  sick  person  to  wliom  I  wish 
to  take  you." 

"I  do  not  know  3^et  of  whom  you  are  speaking." 

"N"©?  Then  I  will  repeat,  of  one  who  is  suffer- 
ing, and  that  ought  to  be  enough  for  you." 

"And  3^ou  think  I  could " 

"  You  can  do  much  more  than  you  yourself  know. 
Barbara  presides  in  the  kitchen,  and  I  say  once 
more:  You  can  be  of  comfort  to  a  sufferer," "^ 

"  But,  Herr  Doctor " 

"  Quick,  I  must  beg  you,  for  my  time  is  limited. 
Will  you  make  yourself  useful — yes  or  no  2" 


136  THE  BUROOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

The  door  into  the  dining-room  had  been  left  open. 
Maria  looked  once  more  at  the  table  and  thought 
of  all  that  she  luul  been  looking  forward  to  on  tliis 
evening.  But  as  the  (hector  prepared  to  take  his 
leave  she  held  him  back  and  said  : 

"  I  will  go." 

]\raria  knew  the  ways  of  this  rough,  but  noble 
and  unsellish  man.  Without  waiting  for  an  answer 
she  fetched  her  cloak,  and  ])receded  him  down  the 
stairs.  As  they  passed  the  kitchen  Doctor  Bontius 
called  to  Barbara : 

"  Tell  Meister  Peter  that  I  have  talcen  his  wife  to 
see  the  sick  Fraulein  van  Hoogstraten  on  the 
Nobel  strasse." 

Maria  could  scarcely  keep  up  with  the  doctor  as 
he  strode  rapidly  ahead  of  her  and  had  difficulty  in 
understanding  him  as  he  told  her  in  abrupt  sentences 
that  all  tlie  Glipper  friends  of  the  Hoogstratens  had 
left  the  city,  that  the  old  fraulein  was  dead,  and 
that  the  servants  had  fled  from  fear  of  the  plague, 
although  there  was  no  danger  of  that  in  this  case, 
and  llenrika  was  left  alone.  She  had  had  a  severe 
fever,  but  she  had  been  mucli  better  for  some  days. 
"  Misfortune  has  taken  up  its  abode  in  the  Glipper 
nest,"  he  said.  ''  Deatii  did  the  old  woman  a  service, 
when  he  took  her  awa^^  The  French  maid,  a  weak 
creature,  held  out  bravely  at  first,  but  collapsed 
after  a  few  nights  of  watching,  and  was  to  have 
been  carried  to  the  Katliarinen  Hospital,  but  tiie 
Italian  stewai'd,  who  is  not  a  bad  fellow,  objected 
and  had  her  taken  to  the  liouse  of  a  Catholic  washer- 
woman. He  has  gone  with  her  to  take  care  of  her. 
There  is  no  one  left  in  the  deserted  house  to  tend 
the  young  fraulein  but  Sister  Gonzaga,  a  good  little 
nun,  one  of  the  three  who  have  been  permitted  to 
remain  in  the  old  convent  near  you  ;  but  to  cap  the 
climax  of  our  misfortunes  the  good  woman  scalded 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  137 

her  fingers  to-day  in  heating  a  bath.  The  Catholic 
priest  has  remained  unscathed  at  his  post,  but  what 
can  we  men  do  in  caring  for  the  young  girl  ?  You 
doubtless  suspect  now  why  I  have  brought  you. 
You  ought  not  and  cannot  be  a  nurse  to  this  stranger 
for  any  length  of  time,  but  unless  things  are  to  go 
ill  with  the  friiulein  she  must  have  at  her  bedside  a 
face  to  which  she  can  become  attached,  and  the 
dear  Lord  has  endowed  you  with  such  a  one.  Look 
at  the  patient,  talk  to  her,  and  if  you  are  what  I 
take  you  to  be — but  here  we  are  at  our  destination." 

The  air  in  the  darkened  hall  of  the  Hoogstraten 
house  was  heavy  with  musk.  The  news  of  the  old 
fraulein's  death  had  at  once  been  sent  to  the  Rath- 
haus  by  Doctor  Bontius'  representative,  and  an 
armed  man  who  was  walkino-  back  and  forth  in  the 
hall,  keeping  watch,  informed  the  doctor  that  the 
clerk  of  the  council  had  already  been  there  and  had 
had  seals  placed  on  the  doors. 

On  the  stairs  Maria  laid  her  hand  in  alarm  on  her 
companion's  arm;  through  an  open  door  on  the 
second  story  she  saw  in  the  dim  light  an  indistinct 
figure  moving  hither  and  thither,  up  and  down,  in  a 
peculiar  way.  Her  voice  was  unsteady  as  she  asked, 
pointing  toward  it  with  her  finger : 

"  What  is  that  ?" 

The  doctor  stopped  as  she  did,  and  when  he  saw 
the  strange  something  at  which  the  burgomaster's 
wife  was  pointing  he  himself  started  back  a  pace. 
But  he  soon  perceived  the  real  nature  of  the  spec- 
tral figure,  and  going  ahead  of  Maria  he  cried 
cheerfully : 

"  What  in  the  vrorld  are  you  doing  on  the  floor, 
Father  Damianus?" 

"  1  am  scrubbing  the  boards,"  was  the  quiet 
reply. 

"  You  are  too  good  for  servants'  work,  Father," 


138  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

answered  the  doctor  indignantly,  "  especially  when 
there  is  so  much  money  without  an  owner  in  the 
house,  and  we  can  tind  as  many  scrub-women  as  we 
want  to-morrow." 

^"But  not  to-da}'',  doctor,  and  nothing  will  per- 
suade the  fraulein  to  remain  in  that  room  any 
longer.  You  yourself  prescribed  sleep,  and  Sister 
Gouzaga  says  that  Fraulein  Henrika  will  not  close 
her  eyes  in  the  room  next  to  the  one  where  the 
body  is."" 

"Then  the  officers  of  the  law  should  have  car- 
ried her,  bed  and  all,  into  the  old  lady's  sitting- 
room." 

"  It  was  sealed,  and  so  were  all  the  good  rooms 
on  this  floor.  The  officers  were  obliging  and  looked 
about  for  charwomen,  but  the  poor  creatures  are 
too  much  in  terror  of  the  plague." 

"  Such  rumors  spread  like  witch-grass,"  cried  the 
doctor.  "  No  one  sows  it,  but  who  can  root  it  out 
once  it  is  there  ?" 

"  Not  you  and  not  I,"  answered  the  priest.  "  The 
fraulein  had  to  be  brought  into  this  room,  but  it 
looked  dirtv,  and  so  I  have  been  cleanino^  it.  It  will 
be  better  for  the  patient  and  the  exercise  cannot 
harm  me." 

The  priest  rose  and  said  as  he  saw  Maria : 

"You  bring  a  new  nurse?  That  is  right.  There 
is  no  need  for  me  to  praise  Sister  Gonzaga,  for  you 
know  her,  but  I  give  you  my  word  that  Fraulein 
Henrika  will  not  endure  her  about  her  much  longer, 
and  as  for  me,  as  soon  as  the  funeral  is  over  I  shall 
leave  this  house." 

"  You  have  done  your  share ;  but  what  is  this 
about  the  Sister  f  cried  the  doctor  impatiently.  "  I 
would  rather  have  your  old  Gonzaga  with  her 
scalded  hand  than —     What  has  happened  now  T' 

The  priest  went  close  to  him  and  whispered,  with 
a  (jnick  side  glance  at  the  burgomaster's  wife  : 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  139 

"  The  Sister  speaks  through  her  nose,  and  the 
frJiulein  has  told  me  that  it  annoys  her  and  asked 
me  to  keep  her  away." 

Doctor  Bontius  thought  a  moment  and  then 
said : 

"  There  are  eyes  that  cannot  bear  a  bright  light, 
and  it  is  possible  that  certain  sounds  are  unendur- 
able to  over-sensitive  ears.  Frau  Biirgemeisterin, 
you  have  been  kept  waiting  a  long  time.  Please 
follow  me," 

It  had  grown  dark.  The  curtains  in  the  sick-room 
had  been  drawn  and  the  lamp  that  was  burning  be- 
hind a  screen  gave  but  a  feeble  light. 

The  doctor  stepped  up  to  the  bed,  felt  Henrika's 
pulse,  prepared  her  in  a  low  voice  for  the  visitor  he 
had  brought,  and  then  took  up  the  lamp  to  see  how 
his  patient  looked. 

Maria  now  saw  a  pale  face,with  irregular  features 
and  a  pair  of  dark  eyes,  whose  size  and  brilliancy 
were  in  strange  contrast  to  the  sunken  cheeks. 

When  old  Gonzaga  had  returned  the  lamp  to  its 
place  the  doctor  said  : 

"Excellent!  Go  now,  Sister,  and  change  the 
bandage  on  your  arm  and  then  lie  down."  Then 
he  motioned  the  burgomaster's  wife  to  approach. 

Uenrika's  face  had  touched  Maria  strangely. 
She  thought  it  beautiful,  but  the  large  eyes  and  the 
tirmly-shut  lips  impressed  her  as  more  unusual  than 
attractive.  She  obeyed  the  doctor's  signal  at  once, 
approached  the  bed,  and  said  kindly  that  she  had 
been  glad  to  come  to  keep  her  company  for  awhile 
and  to  see  if  there  was  anything  she  desired. 

At  these  words  Henrika  raised  herself  in  bed  and 
cried  with  a  sigh  of  relief : 

"  How  good  that  sounds !  Thank  you,  doctor. 
A  human  voice  at  last !  If  you  want  to  make  me 
happy,  Frau  Biirgemeisterin,  go    on  talking,  no 


140  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WrFB. 

matter  about  what.  Please  come  and  sit  down 
here.  With  Sister  Gonza^^a's  hands,  your  voice,  and 
the  doctor's — what  shall  I  call  it? — with  Doctor 
Bontius'  frankness,  it  will  not  be  hard  to  let  myself 
be  nnrsed  back  to  health." 

"  Good,  good,"  murmured  the  doctor.  "  Sister 
Gonzaga's  injui-ies  are  trifling  antl  she  will  stay  with 
you,  and  when  it  is  time  for  you  to  go  to  sleep,  you 
are  to  be  carried  to  another  room.  You,  Frau 
Biii-gemeisterin,  may  stay  here  for  an  hour,  and 
that  must  be  enough  for  to-day.  I  will  go  to  your 
house  and  send  the  man  with  a  lantern  for  you." 

When  the  ladies  w^ere  alone,  Maria  said: 

"  You  think  a  great  deal  of  the  sound  of  voices  ; 
I  do  also  and  doubtless  more  than  I  ought  to.  To 
be  sure,  I  have  never  gone  through  a  severe  illness." 

"  This  is  my  first,"  answered  Henrika,  "  but  now 
I  know^  what"^it  is  to  be  forced  to  submit  to  every- 
thing one  does  not  like  and  to  be  doubly  sensitive 
to  things  that  are  disagreeable  to  one.  I  would 
rather  die  than  be  an  invalid." 

"  You  have  lost  your  aunt,"  said  Maria  sympa- 
thetically. 

"  She  died  early  this  morning.  We  had  little  in 
common  but  blood." 

"Are  your  parents  alive?" 

"  My  father  only  ;  but  why  do  you  ask?" 

"  He  will  be  glad  of  your  recovery.  Doctor 
Bontius  says  that  you  w^ill  soon  be  quite  w^ell." 

"  I  believe  so  too,"  answered  Henrika  confident]3^, 
and  then  went  on  in  a  low  voice  without  noticing 
Maria :  "  There  is  one  nice  thing.  When  I  am 
well  again,  I  shall  be  able —  Are  you  fond  of 
music?" 

"  Yes,  dear  fraulein." 

"  Not  merely  as  a  pastime,  but  because  you  feel 
that  it  is  necessary  to  your  life  ?" 


THE  B UROOMA STER'S  WIFE.  141 

"You  must  be  quieter,  dear  fraulein.  iVIusic — 
yes,  I  think  my  life  would  be  much  poorer  than  it 
is  without  it." 

"  You  sing  ?" 

"I  hare  not  sung  much  here,  but  when  T  was  a 
girl,  we  used  to  sing  every  evening  in  Delft." 

"You,  the  soprano,  of  course." 

"  Yes,  fraulein." 

"  Drop  the  fraulein  and  call  me  Henrika." 

"With  all  my  heart,  if  you  will  call  me  Maria  or 
Frau  Maria." 

"I  will  try.  Don't  you  think  that  we  might 
practice  some  songs  together  ?" 

Just  then  Sister  Gonzaga  entered  the  room 
and  announced  that  the  wife  of  the  collector  of 
taxes,  Cornelius,  was  there  and  wished  to  know  if 
she  could  be  of  any  service. 

"  What  does  this  mean  ?"  asked  Henrika  impa- 
tiently.    "  I  don't  know  her." 

"  She  is  the  mother  of  the  musician  Wilhelm," 
said  Maria. 

"  Oh  !"  exclaimed  Henrika.  "  Shall  I  have  her 
come  in,  Maria  ?" 

The  burgomaster's  wife  shook  her  head  and 
answered  decidedly : 

"  No,  Henrika.  More  than  one  caller  might  hurt 
you,  and  then " 

"  Then  ?" 

"  She  is  a  good,  kind  woman,  but  I  think  her 
brusque  manner,  her  heavy  tread,  and  her  loud 
voice  would  annoy  you.     I  will  go  to  her  for  you." 

"Eeceive  her  kindly  and  tell  her  to  remember 
me  to  her  son.  I  am  not  very  ill,  but  I  see  that 
you  understand  me ;  such  ponderous  attentions 
would  not  agree  with  me  just  now." 

When  Maria  had  executed  her  errand  and  had 
been  talking  for  a  time  to  Henrika,  the  wife  of  tlie 


142  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

clerk  of  the  council  was  announced.  Tier  husband, 
who  had  been  present  when  the  doors  of  the  house 
of  death  were  sealed,  had  told  her  about  the  for- 
Siiken  girl  and  she  had  come  to  see  whether  she 
wanted  for  anything. 

"  You  might  receive  her,"  said  Maria,  "  for  I  am 
sure  she  would  please  you;  but  there  is  another 
knock  and  you  have  talked  enough  for  to-day. 
Try  to  sleep.  I  will  go  home  with  Frau  van  Ilout 
and   to-morrow  I  will  come  again,  if  you  will  let 


me." 


"  Come,  oh,  please  come !"  cried  Henrika.  "  There 
is  something  more  you  would  like  to  say  to  me  ?" 

"  There  is,  indeed,  Friiulein  Henrika.  You  ought 
not  to  stay  in  this  desolate  house.  There  is  plenty 
of  room  in  ours.  Be  our  guest  until  vour 
father " 


"  Yes,  let  me  come  to  you  !"  cried  Henrika  with 
moist  eyes.  "  Take  me  away  from  here,  take  me 
away — and  I  will  be  grateful  to  you  all  my  life 
long." 


TEE  BUBG0MA8TE1CS  WIFE.  143 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

It  had  been  weeks  since  Maria  had  tripped  up- 
stairs as  joyously  as  she  did  to-daj.  She  would 
have  sung  if  it  liad  been  becoming  ;  but  she  was  a 
little  uneasy  none  the  less,  for  perhaps  her  husband 
would  not  be  pleased  at  her  having  invited  upon  her 
own  responsibility  a  stranger,  and  a  sick  stranger 
with  Spanish  sympathies  at  that,  to  be  their  guest. 

As  she  passed  the  dining-room  she  heard  the 
gentlemen  conferrina-  together.  Then  Peter  began 
to  speak.  She  was  struck  by  the  pleasing  depth  of 
his  voice  and  she  said  to  herself  that  Ilenrika 
would  like  to  hear  it.  A  few  moments  later  siie 
entered  the  room  to  welcome  her  husband's  guests. 
Grlad  excitement  and  the  rapid  walk  in  the  May 
evening,  that  was  still  warm  after  the  warm  day, 
had  flushed  her  cheeks,  and  as  she  crossed  the 
threshold  timidly  and  with  a  deferential  greeting, 
which  showed  none  the  less  the  pleasure  the  presence 
of  such  guests  caused  her,  she  made  such  a  charming 
picture  that  no  one  present  was  unimpressed  by  it. 
The  elder  Van  der  Does  slapped  Peter  on  the 
shoulder  and  then  struck  the  ])alm  of  his  hand  with 
his  list,  as  if  to  say  :  "  Well  done  !"  Janus  Dousa 
whispered  gayly  to  Van  Ilout,  who  was  a  good  Latin 
scholar : 

"  Oculi  stmt  in  mnore  ducesP 

Captain  AUertssohn  sprang  up  and  raised  his  hand 
to  his  hat  in  military  salute,  Van  Bronkhorst,  tiie 
representative  of  the  prince,  expressed  his  admiration 


144  TEE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

by  a  courtly  bow,  Doctor  Bontius  smiled  contentedly 
as  one  who  has  accomplished  his  object,  and  Peter 
tried  proudly  and  hapjnly  to  attract  his  wife's  at 
tQution.  But  he  did  not  succeed,  for  IMaria,  finding 
that  she  was  the  target  for  so  many  glances,  droj)])ed 
her  eyes  with  a  blusli  and  said  in  a  firmer  tone  tlian 
one  would  have  expected  from  her  timid  manner : 

"  Welcome,  gentlemen  !  My  greeting  comes  late, 
but  truly  I  would  have  been  glad  to  offer  it  earlier." 

"  I  can  testify  to  that,"  cried  Doctor  Bontius  rising 
to  shake  her  hand  more  heartily  than  he  had  ever 
done  before.  Then  he  motioned  to  Peter  and  cried 
to  the  company  around  the  table  : 

"  Excuse  the  burgomaster  for  a  moment." 

And  standing  apart  with  the  husband  and  wife 
near  the  door,  he  said  : 

"  You  have  invited  a  new  guest  to  the  house,  Frau 
Biirgemeisterin  ;  1  will  never  drink  another  drop  of 
malmsey  if  I  am  wrong." 

"  How  do  you  know  V  asked  Maria  merrily. 

"  I  can  see  it  in  your  face." 

"  And  the  young  lady  will  be  most  heartily  wel- 
come," added  Peter. 

"  Then  you  know  ?"  asked  Maria. 

"  The  doctor  did  not  keep  his  suspicions  to  him- 
self." 

"  Well  then,  3'es,  the  invalid  is  very  ready  to  come 
to  us  and  to-morrow " 

"  No,  I  shall  send  for  her  to-day,"  Peter  inter- 
rupted. 

"  To-day  ?  But  it  is  too  late  ;  she  may  be  asleep, 
our  guests  are  here,  and  our  guest-chamber — " 
exclaimed  Maria,  looking  disapprovingly  and  irreso- 
lutely from  the  doctor  to  her  husband.  " 

"  Calm  yourself,  child,"  answered  Peter.  "  The 
doctor  has  ordered  a  covered  litter  from  the 
Katharinen  Hospital,  Jan  and  a  constable  shall  carry 


TBE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  I45 

it,  and  Barbara  has  finished  in  the  kitchen  and  is 
now  preparing  her  own  room  for  the  young  lady." 

"  And,"  broke  in  the  doctor,  "  the  invalid  may  be 
able  to  sleep  here.  Besides,  it  will  more  than  please 
our  haughty  young  lady  to  be  carried  through  the 
streets  in  the  dark  and  unobserved." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  Maria  dejectedly,  "  that  may  be 
true  ;  but  I  had  been  thinking — one  ought  not  to  be 
over  hasty." 

"  Shall  you  be  glad  to  have  the  friiulein  as  a  guest  ?" 
asked  Peter. 

"  Yes,  indeed." 

"  Then  do  not  let  us  employ  any  half  measures. 
Barbara  is  motioning  to  us  ;  the  litter  has  come, 
doctor.  Go  and  conduct  this  night  procession,  but 
do  not  keep  us  waiting  long  for  you." 

The  burgomaster  returned  to  his  seat  and  the 
doctor  left  the  room. 

Maria  followed  him.  In  the  hall  he  laid  his  hand 
upon  her  arm  and  asked : 

"Do  you  wish  to  hear  again  what  I  think  of 
you  ?" 

"  No,"  answered  the  burgomaster's  wife  in  a  tone 
that  sounded  gay  but  which  nevertheless  betrayed 
the  disappointment  that  she  felt.  "  No — but  you 
have  taught  me  that  you  are  a  man  who  knows  how 
to  spoil  one's  greatest  pleasures." 

"  I  will  provide  others  in  the  place  of  them," 
retorted  the  doctor  with  a  laugh,  as  he  went  down 
the  stairs.  He  was  Peter's  oldest  friend  and  had 
raised  many  objections  to  the  burgomaster's  mar- 
riage, in  these  troublous  times,  with  a  woman  so  much 
his  junior,  but  to-day  he  showed  himself  satisfied 
with  Yan  der  Werff's  choice. 

Maria  returned  to  her  guests,  filled  and  handed 
them  their  glasses,  and  then  betook  herself  to  her 
sister-in-law's   room,  to   help   her  prepare  for  the 


146  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

invalicrs  arrival.  She  did  not  do  it  unwillingl}^  but 
it  seemed  to  her  that  she  would  have  gone  about  the 
work  with  far  greater  pleasure  on  the  morning  of 
t-iie  following  da3^ 

Barbara's  roomy  apartment  overlooked  the  court- 
yard. One  could  hear  there  nothing  of  tlie  confer- 
ence that  was  being  held  in  the  dining-room,  and 
yet  the  meeting  was  b}'  no  means  a  quiet  one,  for 
these  men,  although  animated  by  a  common  puipose, 
were  often  disagreed  as  to  the  ways  and  means  of 
carrying  it  out  successfully. 

There  they  sat,  the  courageous  sons  of  a  little 
nation,  the  noble  leaders  of  a  commonwealth  poor 
in  numbers  and  means  of  defense,  who  had  taken 
upon  themselves  to  make  a  stand  against  tlie  greatest 
power  and  the  strongest  armies  of  their  time.  They 
knew  that  the  clouds  that  had  for  weeks  threatened 
from  a  distance  were  drawing  on  more  and  more 
rapidly,  and  were  about  to  gather  above  Leyden 
and  burst  in  fearful  violence,  for  Van  der  Wertf  had 
summoned  them  to  his  house  because  a  letter  from 
the  prince  addressed  to  Van  Bronkhorstand  himself 
contained  the  news  that  the  stadtholder  of  King 
Philip  of  Spain  had  instructed  Del  Campo  Valdez  to 
besiege  Leyden  a  second  time  and  force  it  to  sur- 
render. They  knew  it  would  be  months  before 
William  of  Orange  could  raise  an  armv  to  relieve 
the  city  or  divert  the  hostile  troops  from  their  object; 
they  had  learned  how  little  was  to  be  expected  from 
the  queen  of  England  and  from  the  Protestant 
princes  of  German v,  and  the  fate  of  their  more 
powerful  neighbor,  Haarlem,  rose  a  hideous  warning 
before  their  eyes.  iJut  they  knew  that  they  were 
serving  in  a  good  cause,  they  counted  upon  the 
fidelity,  the  self-sacrifice,  and  the  statesmanship  of 
Orange,  they  were  ready  to  die  rather  than  become 
subject  body  and  soul  to  the  Spanish  tyrant.    Deep 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WTFE.  147 

and  earnest  was  their  faith  in  God's  justice,  and 
glad  the  confidence  of  each  in  his  own  resolute 
manhood. 

And  truly,  the  men  who  sat  at  the  flower- decked 
table  and  who  understood  so  well  how  to  empty 
their  huge  tankards  that  flask  after  flask  of  Peter's 
malmsey  and  Rhine  wine  had  to  be  brought  up  from 
the  cellar,  the  men  who  made  such  inroads  upon  the 
round  pastries  and  the  huge  roasts,  rich  and  juicy  as 
no  other  country  can  suppl}^ — did  not  look  as 
though  fear  had  brought  them  together. 

The  hat  is  the  emblem  of  liberty,  and  the  free 
man  keeps  his  hat  on  his  head.  Thus  some  of  the 
burgomaster's  guests  sat  with  covered  heads,  and 
how  well  the  high  plaited  caps  of  dark-red  velv.  t, 
adorned  with  handsome  ostrich  plumes  became  the 
fresh  old  face  of  the  elder  Plerr  von  Nordwyk  and 
the  keen,  scholarly  features  of  his  nephew,  Janus 
Dousa ;  how  well  the  broad-brimmed  hat  from  which 
waved  ostrich  plumes  of  blue  and  yellow — the  colors 
of  the  House  of  Orange — looked  on  the  cui'ling  locks 
of  young  Kerr  van  Warmond,  Jan  van  Duiven- 
voorde  !  How  healthful  and  strongly  marked  were 
the  faces  of  the  other  men !  Fresh  color  was  absent 
from  few  of  the  cheeks,  and  sturdy  enjoyment  of 
life,  clear  understanding,  unshakable  resolution,  and 
firmness  of  purpose  flashed  from  many  blue  eyes 
around  this  table.  Even  the  black-robed  senators, 
whose  plaited  ruffs  and  smooth  white  collars  became 
them  well,  did  not  look  as  if  the  dust  of  official  docu- 
ments had  injured  their  health.  The  mustache  or 
full  beard  gave  them  also  a  manly  appearance. 
They  were  all  willing,  even  glad  to  sacrifice  them- 
selves and  their  all  for  a  great  spiritual  blessing,  and 
yet  they  looked  as  though  they  took  a  wholesome 
pleasure  in  life ;  not  a  trace  of  exaltation  spoke  in 
their  intelligent,  sensible  faces ;  in  the  eyes  of  tht 


148  TUB  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

voung  Herr  van  Warmond  alone  shone  something 
of  the  sort,  and  Janus  Dousa's  gaze  often  seemed 
turned  inward  as  though  seelving  there  for  hidden 
things;  and  at  such  times  his  clearly  cut,  irreguhir 
features  were  strangely  attractive. 

The  circle  that  had  gathered  about  the  brightly 
lighted  table  presented  a  gay  and  brilliant  spectacle. 
Plow  well  the  buff  leather  doublets  and  the  sashes 
of  colored  silk  of  the  Jonker  van  AVarmond,  Colonel 
Mulder,  and  Captain  Allertssohn,  and  the  scarlet 
coat  of  gallant  Dirk  Smaling  stood  out  against  the 
somber  black  of  the  robes  worn  by  the  Pastor 
Verstroot,  the  burgomaster,  Van  Ilout,  and  their 
associates.  Van  Eronkhorst's  suit  of  violet  and  the 
dark  hues  of  the  fur-trimmed  mantles  of  the  elder 
Van  der  Does  and  Herr  van  Montfort  mingled 
agreeably  with  the  lighter  and  darker  shades.  All 
that  bore  the  name  of  care  seemed  banished  from 
this  circle  of  color  and  light. 

But  danger  stood  at  the  door.  Any  day  the 
Spanish  vanguard  might  appear  before  Leyden, 
J\lany  preparations  had  been  made.  English  allies 
were  to  occupy  the  fortifications  of  Alfen  and 
defend  the  Gouda  lock  ;  the  works  of  Valkenburg 
had  been  strengthened  and  entrusted  to  otiier 
British  soldiers ;  the  city  troops,  the  burgher  guard 
and  the  volunteers  were  thoroughly  drilled.  There 
was  no  desire  to  bring  foreign  troops  into  the  town, 
for  during  the  first  leaguer  they  had  proved  much 
more  bui  Jensome  than  useful,  and  there  was  little 
fear  of  the  city  being  taken  by  storm,  protected  as 
it  was  by  water,  wall  and  tower. 

What  excited  the  gentlemen  the  most  was  the 
news  Van  Hout  had  brought.  The  rich  Baersdorp, 
one  of  the  four  burgomasters,  who  was  the  largest 
grain  dealer  in  Leytlen,  had  undertaken  to  buy  up, 
in  the  name  of  the  city,  large  quantities  of  bread- 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  149 

stuffs.  Several  ship  loads  of  corn  and  rye  had  been 
delivered  bj  him  the  previous  evening,  but  he  was 
still  behindhand  with  three-quarters  of  what  had 
been  ordered.  He  openly  acknowledged  that  he 
had  given  no  definite  orders  for  a  further  supply,  as, 
owing  to  the  good  prospect  of  heavy  crops,  a  fall  in 
the  price  of  corn  was  expected  on  the  exchanges  of 
Rotterdam  and  Amsterdam,  and  there  would  surely 
be  several  weeks  before  the  beleaguering  of  the  city- 
began  anew. 

V'an  Hout  was  full  of  indignation,  especially  as 
two  of  tlie  four  burgomasters  had  sided  with  their 
colleague.  The  elder  Von  Nordwyk  agreed  with 
Van  Hout  and  cried  : 

"  All  due  respect  to  i/our  worth,  Meister  Peter, 
but  your  three  associates  belong  to  those  friends 
whom  one  would  be  glad  to  exchange  for  open 
enemies.'- 

"  Herr  van  Noyelles,"  interrupted  Colonel  Mulder, 
"  said  the  truth  about  them  when  he  wrote  to  the 
prince  that  the  gallows  was  the  place  for  them." 

"  And  so  it  is,"  broke  in  Captain  Allertssohn,  "  so 
long  as  hangman's  rope  and  traitors'  necks  are  made 
for  each  other." 

'•Traitors — no,"  said  Van  der  Werff  decidedly. 
"  Call  them  cowards,  call  them  selfish  and  base — but 
not  one  of  them  is  a  traitor." 

"Kight,  Meister  Peter,  traitors  they  certainly  are 
not,  and  perhaps  cowardice  has  nothing  to  do  with 
their  actions,"  added  the  elder  Von  JSTordwyk, 
"Any  one  who  has  eyes  to  see  and  ears  to  hear  with 
knows  the  opinions  of  the  men  of  the  old  city 
families,  who  have  been  brought  up  from  the  cradle 
as  future  senators ;  and  I  am  not  speaking  of  those 
or  Leyden  akjne,  but  of  Gouchi  and  Delft,  Rotter- 
dam and  Dortrecht.  Among  a  hundred,  sixty 
would    bear  the    Spanish  yoke,  even   religious  re- 


150  TUB  B  URGOMA STER  'S  WIFE. 

straint,  willini,'-!}^  as  long  as  their  liberties  and  rights 
were  respected.  The  cities  must  rule,  and  in  them, 
the}''  themselves;  that  is  all  they  wish.  Whether 
there  is  preaching  in  the  churches  or  reading  of 
ni'ass,  whether  a  Hollander  or  a  Spaniard  rules,  is  a 
secondary  matter.  I  except  those  present,  for  the\' 
would  not  be  here  if  they  thought  as  those  of  whom 
I  speak." 

"  I  thank  you,"  said  Dirk  Smaling,  "  but  with  all 
respect  to  your  judgment,  you  have  drawn  too  dark 
a  picture.  May  I  ask  whether  the  nobility  does  not 
stand  for  its  rights  and  privileges?" 

"To  be  sure,  Herr  Dirk;  but  their  privileges  are 
commonly  of  an  older  date  than  yours,"  answered 
the  old  man.  "  Look  you,  the  noble  needs  a  ruler. 
He  is  a  lusterless  star  if  he  lacks  the  light  of  the 
sun  by  which  he  shines.  I,  and  with  me  all  the 
nobles  who  have  sworn  fidelity  to  him,  believe  that 
our  sun  can  be  none  other  than  Orange,  who  is  one 
of  us,  who  knows  us,  loves  us,  understands  us;  not 
Philip,  who  comprehends  nothing  of  wdjat  passes 
within  and  around  us,  who  is  a  stranger  to  us  and 
abhors  us.  We  stand  by  William  with  our  lives 
and  possessions,  for  as  I  have  already  said,  we  need 
a  sun,  that  is,  a  monarch — the  cities,  however,  be- 
lieve they  have  light  of  their  own  and  wish  to  sliine 
as  independent  planets.  True,  they  feel  that  in 
these  troubled  times  they  need  a  leader  and  that 
they  can  find  none  better  and  wiser  and  more  de- 
voted to  them  than  Orange  ;  but  if  it  comes  about 
— and  Heaven  grant  it  may — that  the  Spanish  yoke 
is  shattered,  then  even  William's  rule  will  seem 
irksome  to  tliem,  for  they  are  themselves  too  fond 
of  ruling.  In  short:  the  cities  endure  a  ruler,  the 
nobility  rall}^  about  him  and  need  him.  Things 
cannot  be  well,  until  noble,  buigher,  and  peasant 
learn  to  follow  him  gladly  and  join  together  to  do 


TnE  B  UR  a  OMA  STER  \S  WIFE.  151 

battle  under  his  leadership  for  the  most  precious 
gifts  of  life." 

"True,"  said  Yan  Hout.  "The  well-disposed 
nobility  may  serve  as  an  example  to  t)ie  ruling- 
classes  here  and  in  other  cities,  but  the  people,  the 
poor  working  people,  who  know  what  is  at  stake, 
have  not  yet  lost,  thank  God,  the  true  appreciation 
for  what  you  call  the  most  precious  gifts  of  life. 
They  wish  to  be  Hollanders;  ihey  curse  with  honest 
hatred  the  Spanish  butchers;  they  wish  to  serve 
their  God  as  their  consciences  dictate  and  believe  as 
ttieir  hearts  tell  them ;  they  call  the  prince  their 
Father  William.  Wait  a  little  !  As  soon  as  distress 
is  upon  us,  the  poor  and  lowly  will  stand  firm,  when 
the  rich  and  great  vacillate  and  deny  the  good 
cause." 

"  They  are  to  be  depended  upon,"  said  Yan  der 
Wertf,  "  thoroughly  depended  upon." 

"And  because  I  know  them,"  cried  Yan  Hout, 
"  we  shall  conquer  with  God's  help,  come  what 
may." 

Janus  Dousa  had  been  staring  into  his  glass. 
He  now  raised  his  head  and  said  with  a  quick 
gesture : 

"  It  is  strange  that  those  tliat  struggle  with  their 
hands  for  existence,  and  whose  untutored  minds 
only  act  when  the  needs  of  the  day  require  it,  are 
the  most  willing  to  sacrifice  the  little  they  have  for 
spiritual  blessings." 

"  Yes,"  said  the  pastor.  "  The  kingdom  of 
heaven  stands  open  to  the  simple  of  heart.  It  is  a 
wonderful  sight  to  see  how  the  poor  and  ignorant 
respect  religion,  freedom,  and  the  fatherland  far 
more  highly  than  the  proud  possessions  of  this 
world,  ttie  golden  calf  around  which  the  world  is 
pressing." 

"My  class  is    receiving    scant    praise    to-day," 


152  TIIE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

answered  Dirk  Smaling;  "but  I  ask  you  to  kindly 
remember  that  we  are  playin^^  a  high  and  dangerous 
game,  and  that  the  moneyed  classes  have  the  lion's 
share  at  stake." 

^"  By  no  means,"  broke  in  Yan  Ilout.  "  The 
highest  stake  for  which  the  dice  are  being  cast  is 
life,  and  this  has  equal  worth  for  rich  and  ])oor. 
But  those  who  will  hold  back — I  think  I  know  them 
— have  no  simple  motto  or  device,  but  proud 
escutcheons  above  their  doors.     AVait  and  see." 

"  Yes,  wait  and  see,"  said  Yan  der  Werff ;  "  but  at 
present  there  are  things  nearer  at  hand  for  our  con- 
sideration. Day  after  to-morrow  will  be  Ascension 
Day,  when  the  great  annual  fair  is  to  take  place. 
Yesterday  and  the  day  before  more  than  one 
foreign  trader  and  traveler  entered  the  gates. 
Shall  we  allow  the  booths  to  be  set  up,  or  postpone 
the  fair  to  another  time?  If  the  enemy  hurries, 
there  will  be  great  confusion,  and  we  shall  be 
throwing  a  rich  prize  into  his  hands.  I  ask  for 
your  opinion,  gentlemen." 

"  The  traders  ought  to  be  protected  from  loss  and 
the  fair  postponed,"  said  Dirk  van  Montfort. 

"No,"  answered  Yan  Hout,  "  for  if  the  prohibi- 
tion is  issued  we  shall  be  depriving  the  small  trades- 
men of  their  profits  and  prematurely  disheartening 
them." 

"  Let  them  have  their  fair,"  cried  Janus  Dousa. 
"  There  is  no  need  to  give  coming  trouble  tlie 
satisfaction  of  saddening  the  happy  present.  If 
you  wish  to  act  Avisely,  follow  the  advice  of 
Horace." 

"Sufficient  unto  the  day  is  the  evil  thereof,  the 
Scriptures  tell  us,"  added  the  pastor,  and  Captain 
Allertssohn  cried  : 

"  By  my  soul,  yes !  My  soldiers,  the  burgher 
guard  and  the  volunteers  must  have  their  parade. 


THE  B  UBOOJfA STER  '8  WIFE.  1 53 

The  soldier  first  feels  what  he  is  when  he  is  in  full 
uniform,  armed  and  equipped,  and  fair  faces  smile 
at  him,  old  men  wave  to  him,  and  children  run 
shoutincr  before  him." 

So  it  -was  decided  to  let  the  fair  take  ]:)lace. 
While  other  questions  were  being-  eagerly  discussed 
Henrika  found  a  loving  welcome  in  Barbara's 
pleasant  room.  When  the  sick  girl  had  fallen 
asleep  Maria  looked  in  upon  her  guests  but  did  not 
return  to  the  table,  for  their  cheeks  were  flushed 
and  they  no  longer  spoke  in  turn,  but  talked  to  each 
other  as  mclination  prompted. 


154  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 


CHAPTER  XY. 

On  the  day  following  the  sitting  of  the  council 
Burgomaster  van  der  AVerff,  Van  llout,  a  notary, 
and  two  constables  repaired  to  the  Nobelstrasse  to 
settle  the  affairs  of  the  old  Friiulein  van  Iloog- 
straten.  The  citv  fathers  had  decided  to  confiscate 
the  deserted  houses  of  the  Glippers  and  use  what- 
ever property  was  left  behind  to  the  best  advantage 
of  the  common  cause. 

The  old  gentlewoman's  opinions  were  universally 
known,  and  as  Leyden  was  forbidden  to  her  next  of 
kin,  the  Iloogstratens  and  Matenesse  van  Wibisraa, 
it  became  the  duty  of  the  city  to  represent  the  heirs. 
It  was  to  be  expected  that  Glippers  only  would  be 
remembered  in  the  will,  and  if  this  were  the  case, 
the  revenue  from  the  personal  and  real  estate  would 
revert  to  the  city  until  the  deserters  thought  better 
of  it  and  their  conduct  permitted  the  authorities  to 
reopen  the  gates  to  them.  \Vhichever  of  the  heirs 
continued  to  favor  the  Spaniards  and  work  against 
the  cause  of  freedom,  his  share  of  the  inheritance 
would  fall  to  the  city.  These  measures  were  noth- 
ing new.  King  Philip  had  set  the  example,  for  at 
his  pleasure  not  only  the  estates  of  countless  victims 
unjustly  executed  ;  of  followers  of  the  new  religion 
banished  or  gone  into  exile  of  their  own  accord,  but 
also  the  possessions  of  good  Catholic  patriots  had 
been  confiscated.  When  one  has  been  the  anvil  so 
many  years  it  is  pleasant  to  play  the  hammer;  and 
if  it  "was  not  always  done  in  a  wise  and  moderate  way 


TEE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  155 

there  was  always  the  excuse  of  a  hundredfold  more 
cruel  treatment  at  the  hands  of  the  Spaniards.  It 
woukl  have  been  unchristian  to  repay  like  with  like, 
but  in  return  for  mortal  blows  they  gave  only  hard 
knocks,  and  did  not  seek  the  Glippers'  lives. 

At  the  door  of  the  house  of  death  the  members 
of  the  council  foniul  AVilhelm  Corneliussohn  and  his 
mother  ;  they  had  come  to  oifer  Henrika  a  welcome 
to  their  home.  Frau  Cornelius,  who  had  at  first  re- 
fused to  extend  her  love  of  her  neighbor  to  the 
Glipper  friiulein,  was  disappointed  to  find  herself 
deprived  of  the  opjiortunity  of  doing  a  good  deed 
and  expressed  her  feelings  in  her  blunt  way. 

In  the  hall  stood  Belotti,  no  longer  in  the  silken 
hose  and  satin-trimmed  liverv  of  a  house  steward, 
but  in  simple  burgher  attire.  lie  explained  to  the 
musician  and  Peter  that  in  the  first  place  he  was 
staying  in  Leyden  because  he  could  not  make  up  his 
mind  to  leave  the  sick  Denise  in  the  kirch  ;  but 
other  considerations  also  held  him  back  and  princi- 
pally, althougii  he  did  not  like  to  admit  it,  the  feel- 
ing, which  had  been  strengthened  by  long  years  of 
service,  of  being  one  of  the  Hoogstraten  family. 
His  account  books  had  been  found  m  good  order, 
and  the  frjiulein's  counsel  had  readily  paid  him  the 
balance  in  his  favor.  His  savings  were  securely  in- 
vested, and,  as  the  frugal  old  man  had  never  touched 
the  interest,  had  grown  considerably.  Nothing 
kept  him  in  Leyden,  but  still  he  could  not  go  until 
evervthinff  had  been  wound  up  in  the  house  where 

I/O  1 

he  had  ruled  so  long. 

He  had  inquired  daily  for  the  ladies'  health,  and 
after  the  excellenza's  death  he  continued  to  remain 
in  Leyden,  although  Denise  had  begun  to  improve; 
he  considered  it  his  duty  to  pay  the  last  honors  to 
his  dead  mistress. 

The  gentlemen  were  glad  to  find  Belotti  in  the 


156  TUB  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

house.  The  notary  had  managed  the  latter's  little 
fortune  and  esteemed  him  as  an  honest  man.  lie 
now  aslccd  Belotti  to  act  as  guide  to  him  and  his 
cpmpanions.  It  was  necessary,  above  all,  to  find 
the  dead  woman's  will.  There  must  be  one  in 
existence,  for  it  had  been  in  the  notary's  keeping 
until  the  day  following  Ilenrika's  illness',  when  tiie 
old  lady  had  sent  for  it,  as  she  wished  to  make  some 
alterations.  Of  its  contents,  however,  he  knew 
nothing,  for  his  partner,  now  dead,  and  to  whose 
business  he  had  succeeded,  had  been  present  at  its 
execution. 

The  steward  first  led  them  into  the  padrona's 
sitting-room  and  boudoir,  but  though  they  searched 
desks,  trunks  and  cupboards,  and  came  upon  letters, 
money  and  jewels  in  many  boxes  and  caskets,  the 
document  was  not  to  be  found. 

The  gentlemen  thought  that  it  must  be  in  some 
secret  compartment  and  ordered  one  of  the  con- 
stables to  summon  a  locksmith.  Belotti  made  no 
objections,  but  he  listened  with  particular  attention 
to  the  low  sound  of  singing  that  came  from  the 
sleeping-room  where  the  body  lay.  There,  he  knew, 
the  document  was  most  likely  to  be  found,  but  he 
wished  to  let  the  priest  continue  undisturbed  the 
consecration  of  his  mistress.  As  soon  as  all  was 
quiet  in  the  adjoining  room  he  asked  the  gentlemen 
to  follow  him. 

The  lofty  apartment  into  which  he  led  them  was 
filled  with'cloudsof  incense.  A  large  bedstead  above 
which  a  ])ointetl  canopy  of  heavy  silk  reached  to 
the  ceiling  stood  in  the  background.  In  the  middle 
of  the  room  was  placed  the  coffin  in  which  lay  the 
dead  woman.  A  linen,  lace-trimmed  cloth  covered 
the  face.  The  delicate  hands  were  folded  and  clasped 
lightly  about  a  much  worn  rosary.  The  form  was 
concealed  by  a  costly  covering,  in  the  center  of 
which  lay  a  beautifully  carved  crucifix  of  ivory. 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  157 

The  men  bowed  mutely  before  the  body.  Belotti 
went  nearer,  and  when  he  saw  the  padrona's  well- 
known  hands  the  old  man's  breast  was  shaken  with 
convulsive  sobs.  Then  he  knelt  beside  the  coffin, 
pressed  his  lips  to  the  cold,  slender  fingers,  and  a 
tear,  the  only  one  that  was  shed  for  this  dead  woman, 
fell  upon  the  hands  forever  folded. 

The  burgomaster  and  his  companions  did  not  dis- 
turb hiui,  nor  did  they  when  he  pressed  his  forehead 
against  the  coffin  and  offered  a  short,  silent  prayer. 
When  he  had  risen  and  an  elderly  priest  in  full 
canonicals  had  left  the  room,  Father  Damianus 
motioned  to  the  acolyte  with  whom  he  had  been 
standing  in  the  background,  and  with  his  and 
Belotti's  aid  placed  the  lid  upon  the  coffin,  then 
turning  to  Peter  van  der  Wertf,  he  said  : 

"  We  intend  to  bear  the  f riiulein  to  her  rest  at 
midnight,  so  tliat  no  annoyance  may  be  caused." 

''  It  is  well,"  answered  the  burgomaster,  "  and 
whatever  may  come  we  shall  not  send  you  from  the 
city.     But  if  you  prefer  to  join  the  Spaniards " 

Father  Damianus  shook  his  head,  and  interrupting 
the  burgomaster,  said  quietly  : 

"  No  ;  I  was  born  in  Utrecht  and  I  gladly  pray 
for  the  freedom  of  Holland." 

"  Those  are  noble  words,"  cried  Yan  Ilout. 
"  Your  hand,  Father !" 

"  Here  it  is,  and  as  long  as  you  do  not  change  the 
'  haeo  llbeHatis  ergo '  on  your  money  to  '  haeo  re- 
ligionis  ergo^  those  words  shall  not  be  unsaid." 

"  A  free  country  and  freedom  of  faith  for  all,  for 
you  and  yours  as  well,"  said  the  burgomaster,  "  is 
wliat  we  want.  Doctor  Bontius  has  spoken  of  you 
to  me,  good  Father ;  you  have  cared  nobly  for  this 
dead  woman.  Inter  her  according  to  the  rites  of 
your  church;  we  have  come  to  set  in  order  the 
worldly  goods  that  she  has  left  behind.  Perhaps 
this  box  contains  the  will 


158  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"  Xo,"  answered  the  priest.  "  When  she  was 
taken  ill  she  opened  the  sealed  document  in  ray 
presence,  and  whenever  she  felt  strong  enough  she 
added  a  few  words.  An  hour  before  her  death  she 
gave  orders  to  have  the  notary  called,  but  before  he 
arrived  she  was  dead.  I  could  not  remain  constantly 
with  the  body,  so  I  placed  the  parchment  in  the 
linen-press.     Here  is  the  key." 

They  soon  found  the  opened  will.  The  burgo- 
master unfolded  it  quietly,  and  as  he  read  it  aloud, 
Yan  Hout  and  the  notary  looked  over  his  shoulder. 

Several  churches  and  convents,  where  masses 
were  to  be  said  for  the  friiulein's  soul,  and  her 
nearest  of  kin  were  to  divide  the  property.  Be- 
lotti  and  Denise  were  remembered  with  small 
legacies. 

"  It  is  fortunate,"  said  Yan  Hout,  "  that  this  paper 
is  a  piece  of  paper  and  nothing  more." 

"The  will  is  invalid,"  added  the  notary,  "for  it 
was  taken  from  me  with  the  express  intention  of 
chaniifino:  it.  Turn  the  document  over,  Meister 
Peter.  There  is  something  more  to  be  read 
there." 

The  task  that  the  men  now  had  before  them  was 
no  light  one,  for  the  sick  woman  had  scribbled  on 
the  blank  side  of  the  paper,  up  and  down,  here  and 
there,  short  notes,  probably  as  memoranda  for  the 
making  of  a  new  will. 

At  the  very  top  a  cross  was  drawn  with  an  un- 
steady hand,  and  underneath  :  "  Pray  for  us  !  All 
shall  be  left  to  the  Holy  Church." 

Farther  down  was  written:  "Nico.  The  lad 
pleases  me.  The  castle  on  the  dunes.  Ten  thou- 
sand gulden  in  money.  To  be  secured  to  him.  His 
father  shall  not  touch  it.  Expressly  to  be  stated 
why  he  is  disinherited.  He  was  secretly  married 
to  the  daughter  of  Yan  Yliet  of    Haarlem.     Under 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  169 

pitiful  pretexts  he  left  her  to  enter  into  another 
marriage.  If  he  has  forgotten  it,  I  have  not,  and 
I  will  make  him  suffer  for  it.  Nico  shall  realize 
that  false  love  is  poison.  It  has  ruined  my  life — 
ruined,  ruined." 

The  last  word  was  repeated  several  times. 

On  the  right-hand  margin  of  the  sheet  were  a 
number  of  short  notes. 

"Anna,  ten  thousand  gulden.  Well  secured. 
Otherwise  they  will  fall  into  the  clutches  of  that 
bird  of  prey,  D'Avila." 

"Henrika,  three  times  as  much.  Her  father  shall 
pay  her  the  money  from  the  amount  he  owes  me. 
Where  he  is  to  get  it  is  his  affair.  Our  accounts 
will  be  evened  in  this  way." 

"  Belotti  has  acted  badly.     Shall  be  overlooked." 

"  Denise  may  keep  what  was  given  to  her." 

In  the  middle  of  the  document  was  written  in 
large  characters  underlined  two  or  three  times  : 

"The  ebony  box  with  the  Hoogstraten  and 
D'Avila  arms  on  the  lid  is  to  be  sent  to  the  widow 
of  the  Marquis  d'Avennes.  She  is  to  be  found  at 
Chateau  Rochebrun  in  Normandy." 

The  men  who  had  deciphered  this  sentence  to- 
gether looked  at  each  other  in  silence,  until  Yan 
Hout  exclaimed : 

"  What  a  confused  mixture  of  malice  and  feminine 
weakness !  ]N"o  matter  how  cold  a  woman's  heart 
may  seem,  ice  flowers  are  always  to  be  found 
there." 

"  I  am  sorry  for  the  young  lady  at  your  house, 
Herr  Peter,"  said  the  notary,  "  for  it  would  be  easier 
to  draw  sparks  from  rye  "bread  than  such  a  sum 
from  that  poor  devil,  who  is  head  over  ears  in  debt. 
The  daughter  will  be  injured  by  the  father;  that  is 
what  I  call  kinsmanlike  treatment," 

"  What  can  be  in  the  casket  V  asked  the  notary. 


160  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"  There  it  is,"  cried  Yan  Hout. 

"  Bring  it  here,  13elotti." 
^  "  We  must  o])en  it,"  said   the  notary,  "  for   per- 
haps she  is  trying  to   get  her  principal   valuables 
over  the  border." 

"Open  it?  Against  the  dead  woman's  express 
wish  ?"  asked  Van  der  Wertf. 

"Certainly  !"  cried  the  notary.  "We  were  sent 
here  to  take  account  of  the  property.  The  lid  holds 
firmly.  Take  the  picklock,  meister.  That  will 
soon  open  it." 

The  city  authorities  were  not  to  find  any  treas- 
ures in  the  casket,  nothing  but  letters  of  various 
dates.  There  were  not  many.  Those  at  the  bot- 
tom, and  much  faded,  contained  avowrls  of  love 
from  the  Marquis  d'Avennes,  the  more  recent  ones 
were  short  and  signed  Don  Luis  d'Avila.  Van  Hout, 
who  understood  Spanish,  read  them  hastily.  As  he 
came  to  the  end  of  the  last,  he  cried  with  lively 
indignation  : 

"  We  have  here  the  key  to  an  infamous  deed.  Do 
3^ou  remember  the  sensation  that  was  caused  four 
years  ago  by  the  duel  in  which  the  Marquis 
d'Avennes  fell  a  victim  to  a  Spanish  bully  ?  In  this 
letter  the  miserable  bravo  writes  that  he  has — I 
will  translate  it,  it  is  well  worth  the  trouble.  The 
first  part  is  of  no  consequence  ;  here  :  '  Is'ow  that  it 
has  been  granted  me  to  cross  swords  with  the  mar- 
quis and,  not  without  some  danger  to  myself,  to  kill 
him,  a  fate  that  he  seems  to  have  deserved,  seeing 
that  he  had  aroused  your  displeasure  to  so  great  an 
extent,  the  condition  that  you  imposed  upon  me  is 
fulfilled  and  I  hope  to-morrow  to  receive,  throi  gli 
3'our  favor,  the  sweetest  of  rewards.  Tell  Donna 
Anna,  my  adored  betrothed,  that  I  will  lead  her  to 
the  altar  early  to-morrow  morning,  for  the 
D'Avennes  are  influential  ewd  by  the  following  day 


TEE  B  UnaOMASTER  'S  WIFE.  161 

ray  safety  may  be  imperiled.     As  regards  the  rest, 
I  rely  upon  the  generosity  of  my  patroness.'  " 

Van  Hout  flung  the  letter  upon  the  table  and 
cried  :  "  Look  what  a  dainty  hand  the  bravo  writes. 
And,  'fore  God,  the  ladv  to  whom  this  murderous 
token  was  to  be  sent  must  be  the  mother  of  the  un- 
fortunate marquis  who  was  killed  by  the  Spanish 
cutthroat." 

''  Yes,"  said  Belotti,  "  I  can  confirm  your  suspi- 
cions. The  marquise  was  the  wife  of  the  man  who 
broke  faith  with  Friiulein  van  Hoogstraten.  She 
Avho  lies  there  saw  many  suns  rise  and  set,  before 
her  revenge  was  ripe." 

"  Into  the  lire  with  the  thing !"  cried  Van  Hout 
vehemently. 

"  Xo,"  answered  Peter.  "  We  will  not  send  the 
letters,  but  you  shall  keep  them  in  the  archives. 
The  mills  of  the  gods  grind  slowly,  and  who  knows 
what  good  puri)ose  these  letters  may  yet  serve  ?" 

Van  Hout  noihled  assent  and  said  as  he  collected 
the  ])apers :  "I  think  that  the  dead  woman's  prop- 
erty will  come  in  well  for  the  city." 

"The  prince  will  dispose  of  it,"  answered  Van 
der  Werff.  "  How  long  have  you  served  the  friiu- 
lein, Belotti  ?" 

"  Fifteen  years." 

"  Then  remain  in  Leyden  for  the  present,  for  I 
think  that  you  may  hope  for  the  legacy  that  was 
originally  intended  for  you.  I  will  advocate  your 
chiini." 

A  few  hours  before  the  midnight  burial  of  the  old 
friiulein,  llerr  Matenesse  van  AVibisma  and  his  son, 
Nicolas,  ap))eared  before  the  city  gates,  but  they 
were  refused  achnittance  by  the  gate-keeper,  although 
they  both  brought  forward  their  rehitive's  death  as 
a  reason  for  entering.  Ilenrika's  father  did  not 
appear,  as  he  had  gone  a  few  days  before  to  attend 
a  tourney  at  Cologne. 


163  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 


CHAPTER  XYI. 

At  noon  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  May,  the  day  of 
the  ascension  of  our  Lord,  the  rinoiiio-  of  bells  an- 
nounced  the  opening  of  the  great  fair. 

The  ancient  custom  of  making  the  circuit  of  the 
parish  boundaries  had  long  since  given  ])lace  to  a 
religious  festival,  but  the  name  of  "Ommegang'' 
continued  to  be  associated  with  that  of  the  fair,  anil, 
even  after  the  new  religion  had  gained  the  master}'', 
all  sorts  of  processions  took  place  at  the  opening  of 
the  fair. 

In  Roman  Catholic  times  the  cross  had  been 
borne  through  the  streets  in  a  solemn  procession  in 
which  all  Leyden  was  accustomed  to  take  part ; 
now  the  banners  of  the  city  and  standards  with  the 
colors  of  the  House  of  Orange  headed  the  train, 
and  were  followed  b\'^  the  nobles  on  horseback,  the 
city  authorities  in  robes  of  state,  the  clergy  in  black 
gowns,  the  volunteers  in  full  uniform,  the  guilds 
with  their  emblems,  and  lung,  jubilant  lines  of 
school  children.  Even  the  jioorest  invested  in 
something  new  for  their  offspring  on  this  day. 
Never  did  the  mothers  braid  their  little  girls'  hair 
more  carefully  than  for  this  procession.  In  spite  of 
the  hard  times,  many  a  stiver  fi-om  a  lean  purse 
was  spent  for  fresh  ribbons  and  new  shoes,  for  caps 
and  gay-colored  stockings.  The  sun  might  have 
been  reflected  in  the  little  girls'  smoothly  brushed 
liair,  and  the  big  bovs  and  the  little  urchins  made  a 
braver  show  than  the  flowers  in  llerr  van  Mont- 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  163 

fort's  garden,  by  which  the  procession  had  to  pass. 
Each  lad  wore  in  his  cap,  beside  the  feather,  a  green 
sprig,  and  the  smaller  the  little  man  was,  the  larger 
must  be  the  sprig  of  green.  There  was  no  lack  of 
loud  talking  and  merry  shouting,  for  as  each  chikl 
passed  his  house,  he  called  to  his  mother,  his  grand- 
parents, and  the  servants,  who  had  remained  at 
home,  and  as  soon  as  one  raised  his  voice,  others 
speedily  joined  him.  Nor  did  the  grown  people  re- 
main quiet  as  the  procession  approached  the  Rath- 
haus,  the  headquarters  of  the  various  rifle  corps, 
the  guild  halls,  or  the  residences  of  popular  men, 
and  the  universal  rejoicing  was  increased  and 
encouraged  by  the  ringing  of  the  bells,  the  huzzas 
of  the  sailors  on  both  arms  of  the  Ilhineand  on  the 
canals,  the  playing  of  the  musicians  on  the  street 
corners,  and  the  reports  of  mortar  and  cannon, 
which  the  gunner  and  his  assistants  were  firing 
from  the  citadel.  It  was  a  merr}^  turmoil  in  the 
glad  springtime.  This  jovial  throng  seemed  to  be 
basking  in  the  secure  enjoyment  of  peace  and  pros- 
perity. Among  the  gentlemen  of  the  council  alone 
were  grave  faces  to  be  seen  ;  but  the  children  and 
guilds  behind  them  were  not  conscious  of  them,  and 
so  the  rejoicing  went  on  Avithout  interruption  until 
the  churches  swallowed  up  the  procession  and  from 
pulpits  sounded  words  so  earnest  and  full  of  warn- 
ing as  to  make  many  a  man  grow  thoughtful. 

All  three  phases  of  time  belong  to  mankind — to 
the  old  man  belongs  the  past ;  to  the  youth  tlie 
future,  but  to  the  child  the  present.  What  did  the 
lads  and  lasses  of  Leyden,  released  from  school 
during  the  fair,  care  for  the  danger  close  at  hand  ? 
Whoever,  on  this  day,  or  during  the  great  linen  fair 
on  Friday,  or  on  the  following  days,  was  given  a 
penny  to  spend,  or  whoever  had  but  eyes  to  see,  ears 
to  hear,  and  nose  to  smell   with,  passed  with  his 


164  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

comrades  through  the  rows  of  booths,  paused  before 
the  camels  and  (hmcing-bears,  or  gazed  into  the 
o))cn  drinking  booths,  where  to  the  strains  of  bag- 
pipe, chirionet,  and  violin,  danced,  not  only  girls  and 
ybung  men,  but  their  merry  elders;  sampled 
frinocrbread  and  other  delicacies  with  the  solemnity 
of  connoisseurs,  or  followed  the  trum})et-blasts  witli 
which  the  quack  doctor's  negro  attendant  attracted 
the  crowd. 

Adrian,  the  burgomaster's  son,  also  wandered  day 
after  day,  alone,  or  with  his  companions,  among  the 
splendors  of  the  fair,  and  often  clutched  with  a  com- 
fortable feeling  of  opulence  at  the  leather  purse  that 
huno-  at  his  belt,  for  it  contained  several  stivers  that 
liad  come  to  him  from  various  sources — from  his 
father,  mother,  Barbara,  and  his  godmother.  Three 
times  had  Captain  van  Duivenvoorde,  his  particular 
friend,  on  whose  gallant  horse  he  had  often  sat, 
taken  him  to  a  wattle  stand  that  he  might  eat  to  his 
heart's  content,  and  thus  Adrian's  small  fortune 
was  but  little  diminished  on  the  Tuesday  following 
Ascension  Day.  He  intended  to  buy  something  big 
and  fine  with  it ;  a  knight's  sword  or  a  cross-bow, 
or  perhaps — but  this  thought  seemed  too  great  a 
temptation  to  him — the  huge  sheet  of  gingerbread, 
plastered  with  almonds,  that  was  displayed  as  a  show 
piece  in  the  booth  of  a  Delft  baker.  lie  and  Lieschen 
could  nibble  for  weeks  at  this  giant  cake  if  thev  were 
frugal,  and  frugality  is  an  admirable  virtue.  At  all 
events,  there  must  be  something  left  over  for 
"  bruderchens,"  the  toothsome,  spiced  cakes  that 
were  baked  at  many  stands  before  the  eyes  of  the 
passers-by. 

On  Tuesday  afternoon  his  way  took  him  past  the 
famous  liotterdani  "  brnderchen  "  sho]i.  In  front 
of  the  booth  docked  with  mirrors  and  gay  pictures, 
in  a   tall  armchair  that  stood  high  above  its  sur- 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE,  165 

roundings,  sat  a  stout,  comely  woman,  in  the  prime 
of  life,  pouring  rapidly,  and  with  astonishing  skill, 
upon  a  heated  sheet  of  iron  provided  with  numerous 
indentations  a  fluid  batter,  which  she  took  from  a 
huge  pot.  Her  assistant  quickly  turned  with  a  fork 
the  tiny  cakes  that  browned  quickly  in  the  hollows 
of  the^  metal  surface,  and  when  baked,  laid  them 
daintily  on  small  plates.  The  waiter  prepared  them 
for  purchasers  by  placing  a  large  piece  of  yellow 
butter  on  the  smoking  pile.  A  delightful  odor, 
which  reminded  one  only  too  strongly  of  past 
delights,  rose  from  the  fireplace,  and  Adrian's 
fingers  were  already  feeling  the  contents  of  his 
purse,  when  the  negro's  trumpet  sounded,  and  the 
quack  doctor's  cart  drew  up  directly  in  front  of  the 
"  bruderchen  "  booth. 

The  famous  Doctor  Morpargo  was  an  imposing- 
looking  man,  dressed  altogether  in  scarlet  and  wear- 
ing a  thin,  black  beard  that  fell  upon  his  breast. 
His  movements  were  measured  and  elegant,  the 
bows  and  gestures  with  which  he  greeted  the 
assembled  throng  gracious  and  condescending.  As 
soon  as  a  sufficient  number  of  the  curious  had 
assembled  about  his  cart,  which  was  laden  with 
boxes  and  l)ottles,  he  began  to  speak  in  broken 
Dutch,  interlarded  with  many  foreign  words. 

He  praised  the  goodness  of  the  Providence  that 
had  created  the  marvel  of  the  human  organism. 
Everything  was  arranged  in  the  best  and  wisest  w^ay, 
but  in  one  respect  nature  made  a  poor  showing  in 
the  presence  of  experts. 

"Do  you  know^  where  the  trouble  lies,  ladies  and 
gentlemen  ?"  he  asked. 

"  In  the  purse,"  cried  a  lusty  barber's  apprentice  ; 
"  it  keeps  growing  thinner  every  day." 

"Right,  my  son,"  answered  the  quack  graciously, 
"  but  nature  made  a  mistake  in  that  great  cavern 


166  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

from  which  your  answer  comes.  Your  teeth  are  a 
bungliiifT  picee  of  workmanship.  They  come  with 
pain,  they  decay  premature!}',  and  as  long  as  they 
remain  they  torment  every  one  who  does  not  treat 
them  with  care.  But  art  corrects  nature.  You  see 
this  box—"  antl  then  he  launched  forth  in  praise  of 
a  tooth-powder  invented  by  him  and  of  a  mixture 
for  the  cure  of  toothache.  Then  he  passed  to  the 
human  head  and  described  in  vivid  colors  the  nu- 
merous ills  to  which  it  was  subject.  But  these,  too, 
could  be  cured,  unquestionably  cured;  it  was  only 
necessary  to  buy  his  arcanum.  It  was  to  be  had  foV 
a  song,  and  whoever  had  it  could  sweep  away,  as 
with  a  broom,  every  kind  of  headache. 

Adrian  listened  with  open  mouth  to  the  learned 
doctor.  From  the  hot  stov^e  before  the  "  bruder- 
clien  "  booth,  most  enticing  odors  were  wafted  to 
him,  and  he  would  have  liked  exceedingly  to  treat 
himself  to  a  plateful  of  fresh  cakes.  The  baker's 
comfortable  wife  even  waved  her  spoon  at  him,  but 
he  closed  his  hand  about  his  purse  and  turned  his 
eyes  once  more  toward  the  quack,  whose  cart  was 
surrounded  by  men  and  women  buying  tinctures  and 
medicines. 

In  his  father's  house,  the  strange  young  lady  la}'- 
ill  He  had  twice  been  taken  in  to  see  her,  and  the 
l)eautiful,  pale  face  and  the  great  dark  eyes  had 
filled  his  heart  with  pity.  The  clear,  deep  voice  in 
which  she  had  spoken  a  few  words  to  him  had 
seemed  marvelous  and  had  sunk  deej)  into  his  soul. 
One  morning  he  had  awakened  to  find  her  there, 
and  since  then  his  mother  was  seldom  to  be  seen, 
and  the  house  was  even  quieter  than  usual ;  for 
every  one  walked  softly,  spoke  in  a  hushed  voice, 
tapped  carefully  on  a  window  instead  of  using  tlie 
knocker,  and  wiienever  Lieschen  or  he  laughed 
aloud,  or,  in  a  moment  of  forgetfulness,  ran  up  or 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE,  167 

down  the  stairs,  Barbara,  their  mother,  or  Trautchen 
would  appear  and  whisper  to  them :  "  Softly, 
children,  softly,  the  friiulein  has  a  headache.*' 

There  in  the  cart  stood  a  number  of  bottles  that 
promised  relief  from  this  malad}^  and  tlie  famous 
Morpurgo  seemed  to  be  a  very  sensible  man  and  not 
a  buffoon  like  other  quack  doctors,  and  the  wife  of 
the  baker,  Wilhelm  Peterssohn,  who  stood  beside 
him  and  whom  he  knew,  was  saying  to  her  com- 
panion that  the  doctor's  remedies  were  good,  for 
they  had  cured  an  intimate  friend  of  hers  of  a  bad 
attack  of  erysipelas. 

This  remark  determined  the  boy  in  his  resolve. 
Fleeting  visions  of  sword,  cross-bow,  gingerbread, 
and  the  toothsome  "  bruderchen  "  rose  before  him, 
but  he  pushed  them  resolutely  aside,  held  his  breath 
so  that  he  could  not  smell  the  seductive  odors,  and 
walked  hastily  toward  the  cart.  Arrived  there,  he 
loosened  his  purse  from  his  girdle,  shook  its 
contents  into  his  hand,  showed  the  money  to  the 
doctor,  who  had  fixed  his  black  eyes  benevolently 
on  the  unusual  customer,  and  asked  :  "  Will  that  be 
enough  ?" 

"  For  what  ?" 

"  For  the  medicine  for  headaches." 

The  quack  sorted  with  his  forefinger  the  small 
coins  in  Adrian's  hand  and  said  gravely  :  "  No,  my 
son,  but  I  am  always  glad  to  advance  the  cause  of 
knowledge.  There  is  yet  much  for  you  to  learn  at 
school  and  headache  will  hinder  you.  Here  is  the 
medicine  and,  as  it  is  you,  I  will  also  give  you  this 
prescription  for  still  another  arcanum." 

Adrian  hurriedly  wrapped  in  the  printed  paper 
the  bottle  the  quack  had  given  him,  and,  with  his 
dearly  bought  treasure  in  his  hand,  ran  toward 
home.  On  the  way  he  was  accosted  by  Captain 
Allertssohn,  who  came  toward  him  wHh  the 
musician  Wilhelm. 


1C8  TUB  n  UROOMASTER  'S  WIFE. 

"Have  vou  seen  mv  Andreas,  Master  Ke'er-do- 
well  ?"  lie  inquired  of  the  lad. 

"  He  was  listening  to  the  niusicians  in  the  lliipen- 
burg,"  said  Adrian,  and  releasing  himself  from  the 
big  man's  grasp,  (lisa|)i)eare(l  in  the  crowd. 

"A  briglit  lad,"  saicl  the  fencing  master.  "Mine 
is  with  the  musicians  a^ain.  The  bov  can  think  of 
nothing  but  your  art.  lie  is  much  fonder  of  play- 
ing on  his  comb  than  combing  his  hair  with  it.  lie 
is  always  pij)ing  on  every  leaf  and  reed,  he  makes 
himself  triangles  from  broken  rapiers,  no  kitchen- 
pot  is  safe  from  his  drumming;  in  short,  his  good- 
for-nothing  head  is  filled  with  nothing  but  sing- 
song ;  he  wants  to  be  a  musician  or  something  of 
the  sort." 

"  Quite  right,  quite  right !"  answered  Wilhelm 
warmly  ;  "  he  has  a  fine  ear  and  the  best  voice  in  the 
choir." 

"  I  must  consider  the  matter,"  answered  the  cap- 
tain, "  and  you,  if  any  one,  can  tell  me  what  he  ma}'- 
accomplish  in  your  art.  If  you  have  time  this  even- 
ing,IIerr  AVilhelm,  come  to  me  while  I  am  on  guard. 
I  should  like  to  talk  with  you.  To  be  sure,  you  will 
scarcely  find  me  before  ten.  There's  the  catch  in 
my  throat  again,  and  on  such  days —  By  Eoland, 
my  fore  man  !" 

The  captain  cleared  his  throat  loudly  and 
violently,  and  "Wilhelm  said  :  "  I  am  at  your  service, 
for  the  night  is  long,  but  I  shall  not  let  you  go  now, 
until  vou  tell  me  what  you  mean  by  your  fore  man, 
Koland." 

"  Well,  then  ;  there  is  not  much  to  it,  and  perhaps 
you  won't  understand.  Come  in  here.  I  can 
tell  it  better  over  a  tankard  of  beer,  and  one's  legs 
rebel  when  they  are  denied  rest  for  four  nights  in 
succession." 

When  the  two   men  were  seated  opposite  each 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  169 

other  in  the  taproom,  the  fencing-master  brushed 
his  irmstache  away  from  his  lips  and  began :  "  How 
long  ago  was  it? — Let  us  say  a  good  fifteen  years, 
when  I  rode  to  Haarlem  with  the  innkeeper 
Aquanus,  who,  as  you  know,  is  a  learned  man  and 
occupies  himself  with  Latin  writings  and  all  sorts  of 
ancient  rubbish.  Lie  is  an  interesting  man  to  talk 
with,  and  when  the  conversation  turned  upon  how 
in  life  we  often  meet  for  the  lirst  time  with  things 
we  seem  to  have  met  with  before,  he  said  that  it 
was  easily  explained,  for  the  soul  was  indestructible. 
As  long  as  we  live,  it  remains  with  us,  and  when  we 
die,  it  soars  away  to  be  punished  or  rewarded 
according  to  its  deserts,  but  after  centuries,  which 
are  no  more  to  the  Lord  than  the  moment  that  I 
take  to  empty  this  mug — one  more,  Dientje — the 
merciful  Father  releases  it  again,  and  it  seeks  an 
abiding  place  in  some  new-born  child.  This  made 
me  laugh ;  but  my  friend  was  not  at  all  disturbed 
and  went  on  to  tell  of  an  old  pagan,  a  wonderfully 
wise  old  fellow,  who  knew  for  a  certainty  that  his 
soul  had  formerly  had  its  habitation  in  the  body  of 
a  mighty  hero.  This  same  pagan  also  remembered 
exactly  where,  in  his  previous  existence,  he  had 
hung  his  shield,  and  told  his  associates.  The  latter 
made  search  and  found  the  shield  and  upon  it  the 
first  letters  of  the  Christian  and  surnames  which 
had  been  the  wise  man's  centuries  before  at  the  time 
of  his  existence  as  a  soldier.  This  took  me  aback, 
for  look  you,  master — and  don't  laugh — something 
very  like  it  had  once  happened  to  me.  I  don't 
think  much  of  books  and  from  childhood  have 
always  read  one  and  the  same.  I  have  inherited  it 
from' my  father,  and  it  is  not  printed  but  written. 
I  will  show  it  to  you  some  time — it  contains  the 
history  of  the  brave  Koland.  Often  when  I  have 
lost  myself  in  this  true  and  beautiful  narrative,  my 


170  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

cheeks  have  grown  as  red  as  fire,  and  I  confess  to 
you  as  I  confessed  to  Aquanus  :  I  am  very  much 
mistaken  or  I  have  sat  at  King-  Charlemagne's  table, 
an,d  have  worn  Roland's  coat  of  mail  in  tourney  or 
battle.  I  believe  1  have  seen  the  Moorish  king, 
Marsilia,  and  once  as  I  was  reading  how,  in  the 
valley  of  Koncesvalles,  the  dying  Roland  kept 
blowing  his  horn  until  all  was  over,  I  felt  a  pain  in 
my  throat  as  though  it  would  burst,  and  it  seemed 
as  though  I  had  felt  that  very  pain  before.  When 
I  told  all  this  faithfuU}'^  to  Aquanus,  he  exclaimed 
that  there  was  no  doubt  that  my  soul  had  once 
lived  in  Roland,  or  in  other  words,  that  in  a  former 
life  I  had  been  the  Knight  Roland." 

The  musician  looked  at  his  companion  in  surprise 
and  asked  :  "  You  can  really  believe  that, 
captain  V^ 

"  Why  not  ?"  answered  the  other.  "  Nothing  is 
impossible  with  God.  At  first,  I  myself  laughed  in 
the  man's  face,  bu>t  his  words  have  followed  me, 
and  as  I  read  the  old  story  anew,  I  could  not  help 
asking  myself —  In  short,  sir,  my  soul  undoubtedly 
has  once  lived  in  Roland  and  therefore  I  call  him 
my  '  fore  man.'  In  the  course  of  time  it  has  become 
my  habit  to  swear  by  him.  Folly,  j^ou  will  think, 
but  I  know  what  I  know,  and  now  I  must  leave 
you.  AVe  will  have  another  talk  to-night,  but  about 
other  matters.  Every  one  has  his  hobby,  but  at 
least  mine  does  not  trouble  people  much.  I  show  it 
only  to  good  friends  ,  strangers,  who  ask  me  about 
the  fore  man  Roland,  rareh"^  do  so  a  second  time. 
The  score,  Dientje !  There  is  the  catch  in  my 
throat  again.  I  must  see  that  the  towers  are  properly 
guarded  and  caution  the  sentinels  to  keep  their  eyes 
open.  If  you  come  prepared  for  fighting,  you  may 
be  spared  a  walk.  There  is  no  telling  what  may 
happen  to-night.     You  will  probably  pass  by  the 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  ill 

new  Khine.  Stop  at  my  house  and  tell  my  wife 
that  she  need  not  wait  supper  for  me.  Or,  no,  I 
will  see  to  it  myself  ;  there  is  something  in  the  air 
to-day,  you  will  see,  for  I  have  the  Roncesvalles 
throat  again." 


178  TUE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

In  the  great  guardhouse,  which  had  been  built 
near  the  citadel  during  the  siege  that  had  been 
raised  two  montlis  before,  volunteers  and  city  sol- 
diers were  sitting  together  in  groups  after  sundown, 
drinking  copious  draughts  of  beer  and  whilingaway 
the  time  in  playing  cards  in  the  feeble  light  of  tal- 
low candles. 

The  recess  where  the  officers'  table  stood  was 
somewhat  better  lighted.  Wilhelm,  who  in  pursu- 
ance of  his  friend's  advice  had  donned  his  uniform 
of  sub-lieutenant  of  the  burgher  guard,  seated 
himself  at  the  empty  table  shortly  after  the  tower 
clock  had  struck  ten.  As  he  was  ordering:  the  at- 
tendant  to  bring  him  a  mug  of  beer,  Captain  AUerts- 
sohn  appeared  with  the  Jonker  van  Warmond,  who 
had  taken  part  in  the  conference  at  Peter  van  der 
Werff's  and  who,  two  years  before,  had  valiantly 
won  his  captain's  sash  at  the  taking  of  Brill.  As 
this  member  of  one  of  the  richest  and  most  distin- 
guished of  the  noble  families  of  Holland,  whose 
mother  had  borne  the  name  of  Egmont,  entered  the 
recess,  he  took  his  hand,  encased  in  a  high  gauntlet, 
from  the  captain's  arm  and  said,  countermanding  the 
musician's  order! 

"Not  so!  The  little  keg  from  the  "Wurzburger 
Stein  cannot  be  empty  yet.  We  will  find  the  bot- 
tom of  it  to-night.     What  think  you,  captain  V 

"  It  will  lighten  the  keg  and  not  burden  us  par- 
ticularly," answered  the  other.     "  Good    evening, 


TEE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  173 

Herr  "Wilhelm,  punctuality  becomes  a  soldier.  The 
men  begin  to  understand  what  is  coming.  I  have 
posted  them  so  that  they  can  scan  the  country  in 
every  direction,  I  shall  have  them  relieved  every 
hour  or  so,  and  look  after  them  myself  now  and 
then.  This  is  good  liquor,  jonker.  All  honor  to 
the  man  who  exchanges  his  money  for  such  wine. 
The  first  glass  to  the  prince's  health." 

The  three  men  touched  glasses  and  soon  clinked 
them  again  to  the  freedom  of  Holland,  and  to  the 
welfare  of  the  good  city  of  Leyden.  Tiie  talk  went 
on  merrily,  but  duty  vi'^as  not  forgotten,  for  at  the 
end  of  the  first  half  hour  the  captain  himself  rose 
to  scan  the  horizon  and  to  urge  the  guards  to  greater 
vigilance. 

When  he  returned  to  the  recess,  Wilhelm  and  the 
jonker  did  not  notice  him,  in  the  eagerness  of  their 
conversation.  The  musician  was  talking  of  Italy 
and  Allertssohn  heard  him  exclaim  with  great 
enthusiasm : 

"Any  one  who  has  once  seen  it  can  never  forget 
it,  and  when  I  am  sitting  on  my  balcony  with  my 
pigeons,  mv  thoughts  only  too  often  fly  far  away 
with  them  and  my  eyes  see  nothing  of  our  broad, 
monotonous  plains  and  our  gray,  cloudy  sky." 

"Ho,  Meister  Wilhelm  !"  interrupted  the  captain, 
throwing  himself  into  an  armchair  and  stretching 
out  his  booted  legs.  "  Ho,  ho !  I  have  found  out 
your  hobby  now.  Italy,  always  Italy  !  I  know  the 
country  myself,  for  I  have  been  to  Brescia,  seeking 
for  swords  of  good  steel  for  the  prince  and  other 
seigneurs.  Then  I  crossed  the  rugged  A])ennines 
and  went  to  Florence,  to  look  for  fine  pieces  of 
armor ;  from  Livorno  I  went  by  sea  to  Genoa,  and 
there  I  bought  chased  silver  and  gold  work  for 
shoulder  belts  and  sword  sheaths.  What  is  true  is 
always  true:  the  brown-skinned  rascals  can  do  fine 


174  TUE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

work.  But  the  country,  the  country  !  By  Boland, 
my  fore  man — how  a  sensible  man  can  prefer  it  to 
ours  is  more  than  I  can  understand." 

"  IJolhind  is  our  mother,"  interrupted  the  jonker. 
"As  good  sons,  we  think  her  the  best  of  women, 
but  we  can  athnit  without  shame  that  there  are 
others  more  beautiful  in  the  world." 

"So  vou  sino-  the  same  tune!"  cried  the  fencing:- 
master,  angrily  pushing  his  glass  further  upon  the 
table.     "  Ilave  you  ever  crossed  the  Alps  ?" 

"  No  ;  at  the  same  time " 

"  At  the  same  time  you  believe  the  color  daubers 
of  the  artist  guild,  whose  eyes  have  been  caught  by 
a  bit  of  blue  in  the  sky  and  sea,  or  the  musical 
gentry  who  let  themselves  be  carried  away  by  soft 
voices  and  sweet  music,  but  you  would  do  well  to 
listen  also  to  a  sensible  man." 

"  Speak  on,  captain." 

"  Very  well ;  and  if  any  one  can  catch  me  in  an  un- 
truth, I  will  pay  his  score  until  the  Day  of  Judg- 
ment. 1  will  begin  at  the  beginning.  First  you 
cross  the  dreadful  Alps;  there  you  see  snow,  dreary, 
barren  rocks,  and  fierce  torrents  upon  which  no  one 
dare  launch  a  boat.  Instead  of  watering  the 
meadows,  the  whirling  stream  casts  stones  along  its 
banks.  Then  j^^ou  come  to  the  plains,  where  many 
tilings  grow,  it  is  true.  I  was  there  in  tlie  month 
of  June,  and  it  amused  me  to  see  the  tiny  fields 
where  stood  little  trees  that  served  to  support  the 
the  grapevines.  It  was  not  so  ugly,  but  the  heat, 
jonker,  the  heat  destroj'^ed  all  one's  pleasure  !  And 
the  dirt  in  the  taverns,  the  vermin,  and  what  one 
Ijud  to  hear  about  bravos,  who  shed  the  blood  of 
honest  Christians  in  the  dark  for  paltry  money  !  If 
your  throat  is  dry,  there  is  nothing  but  warm  wine 
and  not  a  drop  of  cool  beer;  and  the  dust,  gentle- 
men,  the  dust!     All  respect  to  the  steel  of  Brescia. 


THE  B  UROOMA 8TER  'S  WIFE.  1 75 

But  in  the  tavern  the  very  feather  was  stolen  from 
ray  hat,  and  the  landlord  ate  down  onions  as  if 
they  were  white  bread.  May  God  punish  me  if 
ever  a  bit  of  honest  beef  such  as  my  wife  sets  before 
me  every  day— and  we  do  not  live  like  princes — 
passed  between  my  teeth  ;  and  the  butter,  jonker,  the 
butter  !  We  burn  oil  in  our  lamps,  and  grease  the 
hinges  of  our  doors  when  the}^  creak,  but  the 
Italians  use  it  for  cooking  chickens  and  fish.  Such 
accursed  doings !"' 

"Take  care,  captain,"  cried  Wilhelm,  "  or  I  shall 
take  you  at  your  word  and  you  will  have  to  pay  my 
score  for  the  rest  of  my  life"  Olive  oil  is  pure,  and 
pleasant  to  the  taste." '^ 

"  For  those  who  like  it.  Give  me  Dutch  butter. 
Olive  oil  may  do  for  polishing  steel,  but  for  cooking, 
butter  is  the  proper  thing,  and  there's  an  end  of  it. 
Suggest  to  your  mother  that  she  do  her  cooking  in 
oil — how  she  would  stare  at  you  !  But  please  listen 
to  me  further.  From  Lombardy  I  went  to  Bologna 
and  then  crossed  the  Apennines.  Sometimes  the 
road  went  up,  then  suddenly  down  again,  and  it  is  a 
curious  pleasure,  which  we  are  spared  in  this  country, 
thank  God,  to  sit  in  the  saddle  while  descending  a 
mountain.  To  the  right  and  left  lofty  mountains 
like  walls.  You  feel  oppressed  in  the  narrow 
valleys,  and  when  you  want  to  look  off  into  the 
distance — nothing  "to  be  seen,  for  everywhere  the 
miserable  mountains  rise  before  your  very  nose.  I 
believe  that  the  Lord  made  these  mountains  after 
Adam's  fall  as  a  punishment  for  mankind.  On  the 
sixth  day  of  the  creation  the  earth  w^asflat.  It  was 
in  August  and  when  the  noon  sun  was  reflected  from 
the  rocks,  it  was  enough  to  kill  one  ;  I  only  wonder 
that  I  am  not  sitting  here  beside  you  browned  and 
baked.  The  famous  blue  of  the  Italian  sky  !  Always 
the  same.     We  have  it  blue  here  too,  but  it  changes 


176  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

with  beautiful  clouds.  There  are  few  things  in 
Holland  that  please  me  more  than  these  very  clouds 
of  ours.  AVhen  the  Apennines  lay  behind  me  at 
last^  I  came  to  world-renowned  Florence." 

"  And  can  you  withhold  your  admiration  from 
this  city  as  well  V  asked  the  musician. 

"  No,  sir,  there  are  many  proud  and  stately  palaces 
and  beautiful  churches,  and  there  is  no  lack  of  silk 
and  velvet,  and  the  manufacture  of  cloth  is  in  a 
flourishing  condition  ;  but  I  was  not  well,  sir,  I  was 
not  well  in  Florence,  principally  on  account  of  the 
heat,  and  I  found  many  things  different  from  what 
I  expected.  There  was  the  Arno,  first  of  all !  The 
stream  was  absurd,  absolutely  absurd.  Do  you  know 
what  it  looks  like  ?  Like  the  puddles  that  stand 
between  the  fragments  and  blocks  of  hewn  stone  in 
a  stone-cutter's  yard  after  a  heavy  rainstorm." 

"  The  score,  captain,  the  score !" 

"  I  mean  the  yard  of  the  stone-cutter  who  does  a 
large  business,  and  puddles  of  considerable  size. 
Will  you  still  contradict  me  if  I  declare  that  the 
Arno  is  a  narrow,  shallow  strip  of  water  just  good 
enough  to  float  a  boy's  toy  ship  ?  It  borders  a  wide 
surface  of  gray  pebbles  very  much  as  the  gold  fringe 
there  borders  the  top  of  the  jonker's  gauntlet." 

"  You  saw  it  at  the  end  of  a  hot  summer,"  an- 
swered Wilhelm.     "  In  spring  it  is  very  different." 

"  Possibly,  but  please  remember  the  Rhine  and 
the  Maas  and  our  other  rivers,  even  the  Marne  and 
the  Drecht  and  whatever  the  other  smaller  ones  are 
called.  They  are  full  at  all  times  of  the  year  and 
stately  ships  can  float  upon  them.  In  this  country 
things  are  alwaj's  the  same  and  can  be  depended 
upon  ;  in  Italy  it  is  one  thing  one  day  and  another 
the  next.     It  is  the  same  in  the  fencing-school." 

"  The  Italians  are  dangerous  swordsmen,"  said 
the  jonker. 


TEE  bvroomastee's  wiFm  m 

"  Quite  true,  but  they  keep  constantly  on  the  move 
and  lack  the  proper  steadiness.  I  know  what  I  am 
saying,  for  I  took  up  my  quarters  with  my  colleague 
Torelli,  the  first  fencing-master  in  the  city.  Of  the 
meals  he  set  before  me  I  will  say  nothing.  Maca- 
roni to-day,  to-morrow  macaroni  Avith  a  couple  of 
drumsticks'^  added,  and  there  you  are.  I  have  often 
drawn  my  belt  tighter  after  dinner.  As  far  as  art 
goes,  Torelli  is  certainly  no  bungler,  but  he  also 
has  the  same  antics  in  his  method.  One  has  to  keep 
one's  eyes  open  in  a  bout  with  him,  but  if  I  once  get 
to  my  carte,  tierce,  and  seconde,  he  is  at  my  mercy." 

"  A  fine  series  ;  I  have  found  it  useful." 

"  1  know,  I  know,"  answered  the  captain  eagerly. 
"  You  silenced  that  French  bully  at  Namur  with  it. 
There's  the  catch  in  my  throat  again.  Something 
is  going  to  happen  to-day,  gentlemen,  something  is 
sure  to  happen." 

The  fencing-master  clutched  with  his  left  hand  at 
the  front  of  his  ruff  and  with  his  right  set  his  glass 
down  violently  upon  the  table.  He  had  often  done 
so  far  more  carelessly,  but  to-day  the  glass  shattered 
into  pieces. 

"  That  means  nothing,"  cried  the  jonker.  "  Here, 
fellow,  another  glass  for  the  captain." 

The  fancing-master  pushed  his  chair  back  from 
the  table  and  as  he  looked  at  the  fragments  of 
greenish  glass,  said  in  an  altered  tone,  more  to  him- 
self than  to  his  companions  ^ 

"  Yes,  yes,  grave  tilings  will  happen  to-day. 
Broken  into  a  thousand  pieces  !  As  God  wills.  I 
know  where  my  place  is." 

"  Meister,"  interrupted  the  jonker  in  a  tone  of 
gentle  reproach,  as  he  filled  the  fresh  glass, 
"  Meister,  what  forebodings  are  these  ?  Before  the 
battle  of  Brill,  I  stumbled  as  I  jumped  from  the 
boat  and  broke  mv  sword.     I  soon  found  another, 


178  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

but  I  thought  to  myself :  '  It's  all  over  with  me  to- 
day.' And  here  I  s'^it  and  hope  to  empty  many  a 
glass  with  you  yet." 

"  1  am  all  right  now,"  said  the  fencing-master, 
raising  his  hat  and  wiping  his  forehead  with  the 
badk  of  his  hand.  The  hour  comes  to  every  man 
and  if  mine  is  approaching — as  God  wills!  My 
family  will  not  starve.  The  house  on  the  new 
Rhine  is  unencumbered  and  if  I  cannot  leave  them 
much,  I  can  leave  them  a  good  name  and  true 
friends.  My  second  lad,  the  musician,  1  know  you 
will  keep  your  eye  on,  Wiihelm.  Xo  man  is  indis- 
pensable, and  if  Ileaven  calls  me  from  this  command, 
the  Jonker  von  Nordwyk,  Jan  van  der  Does,  can 
take  my  place.  You,  *^Ilerr  van  AVarmond,  are 
exactly  where  you  ought  to  be,  and  the  good  cause 
will  come  to  a  happy  issue  without  me." 

The  musician  listened  with  astonishment  to  the 
softened  ring  in  the  deep  voice,  but  the  jonker 
raised  his  goblet  and  cried  : 

"Such  weighty  thoughts  for  so  fragile  a  glass! 
You  make  too  much  of  the  matter,  captain.  Take 
up  your  drinking  cup  again  and  ])ledge  me:  Long 
life'^to  the  noble  art  of  fencing  and  to  your  series — 
quarte,  tierce,  and  seconde." 

"  Long  life  to  them !"  answered  the  captain, 
"  long  life  to  them!  Many  hundreds  of  noble  gentle- 
men use  the  sword  in  this  country,  and  the  man  who 
sits  here  has  taught  them  to  use  it  according  to  rule. 
To  how  many  has  my  series  done  good  service  in 
the  duello,  and  I,  Andreas,  its  master,  have  let 
tierce  follow  quarte  and  seconde  follow  tierce  a 
thousand  times,  but  never  without  the  button  on 
the  foil  and  against  padded  doublets.  Outside 
the  city  walls,  on  the  battlefield,  not  one,  let  me 
press  the  leaders  as  I  would,  has  stood  against 
me  in  single  combiu      This  sword  of  13rescian  steel 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE  179 

has  more  than  once  pierced  Spanish  jerkin,  but 
the  art  that  I  teach,  gentlemen,  the  art  that  I  love 
and  to  which  I  have  devoted  my  life,  I  have  never 
practiced  in  earnest.  It  is  hard  to  bear,  gentlemen, 
and  if  Heaven,  before  it  calls  him,  is  inclined  to 
grant  one  favor  to  a  poor  man  who  is  no  worse  than 
most,  it  will  let  me  cross  my  sword  with  another  in 
single  combat  and  let  me  try  my  series  in  a  struggle 
for  life  or  death  with  a  worthy  opponent.  If  the 
good  Lord  will  grant  this  to  Andreas " 

The  fencing-master  had  not  finished  his  sentence 
when  an  armed  man  threw  open  the  door  and 
shouted  into  the  guardroom : 

"  The  signal  is  raised  in  Lej^lerdorp." 

At  these  words  Allertssohn  sprang  from  his  chair 
as  nimbly  as  a  boy,  drew  himself  up  to  his  full 
height,  set  his  cross-belt  straight,  pulled  down  his 
sash,  and  cried : 

"  To  the  citadel,  bugler,  and  sound  the  call  to 
arms.  Captain  van  Duivenvoorde,  to  your  volun- 
teers !  Place  yourself  with  four  companies  at  the 
Hohenort  Gate,  in  readiness,  should  the  battle 
approach  the  city  walls.  The  gunners  must  see  to 
the  slow-matches.  Let  the  garrisons  in  tlie  towers 
be  doubled.  Go,  Klass,  to  the  bellringer  of  St, 
Pancratius  and  tell  him  to  sound  the  tocsin  to  warn 
the  people  at  the  fair.  Your  hand,  jonker.  I  know 
that  you  will  be  at  your  post,  and  you,  JVIeister 
Wilhelm." 

"  I  am  going  with  you,"  said  the  musician  firmly. 
"  Do  not  refuse  me.  I  have  kept  quietly  to  myself 
long  enough  ;  I  shall  stifle  here." 

Wilhelm's  cheeks  burned  and  there  was  such  a 
somber  fire  in  his  eyes  that  the  jonker  looked  with 
astonishment  at  his  usually  composed  friend,  while 
the  captain  exclaimed  : 

"  Place  yourself  in  the  first  company  then,  beside 


180  TUE  B  URQOMA  STEll  *S  WIFE. 

my  ensign.  You  do  not  look  as  though  you  were  in 
a  joking  mood,  and  there  will  be  grave  doings  to- 
niglit,  grave  doings." 

AUertsohn  went  out  with  a  firm  step,  addressed 
his  men  in  a  few  brief  and  forcible  words,  ordered 
tiie  drums  to  be  beaten  during  the  march  through 
the  city  to  rouse  the  people  at  the  fair,  placed  him- 
self at  the  head  of  his  tried  little  band,  and  led  them 
toward  the  new  Rhine. 

The  moon  shone  down  briglitly  into  the  silent 
streets,  was  reflected  in  the  black  surface  of  tiie 
river,  and  shed  a  silvery  gleam  on  the  pointed  gables 
of  the  narrow  houses.  In  tlie  silent  night  the  quick 
tread  of  the  soldiers  was  echoed  loudlv  back  from 
the  houses,  and  the  air  shaken  by  tlie  rolling  of  the 
drums  made  the  windowpanes  rattle. 

This  time  no  happy  children  ran  with  paper  flags 
and  wooden  swords  before  the  soldiers,  no  merry 
maidens  or  proud  niotliers  followed  them,  nor  old 
men  who  thought  of  earlier  days  when  they  them- 
selves had  carried  arms.  As  the  silent  troops 
neared  their  captain's  house,  the  tower  clock  struck 
twelve  with  solemn  strokes,  and  immediately  after 
the  alarm  bell  began  to  clash  from  the  tower  of 
Pancratius. 

A  window  was  thrown  up  in  the  first  story  of  the 
fencing-master's  house  and  at  it  appeared  the  face 
of  the  captain's  wife.  The  trials  of  a  married  life 
with  the  peculiar  man  had  prematurely  aged  Eva's 
pretty  face,  but  the  soft  moonlight  transfigured  the 
fading  features.  The  beat  of  the  drums  of  her  hus- 
band's troops  was  famihar  to  her,  and  when  she  saw 
him  marching  by  at  midnight  to  the  grim  call  of 
the  tocsin,  a  great  terror  seized  her,  and  she  could 
scarcely  call  down  :  "  Husband,  husband  !  What  is 
it,  Andreas?" 

lie  did  not  hear  her,  for  the  roll  of  the  drums,  the 


THE  BUROOM ASTER'S  WIFE.  181 

tread  of  the  soldiers'  feet  upon  the  pavement,  and 
the  ringing  of  the  alarm  bell  drowned  her  voice. 
But  he  did  not  fail  to  see  her  and  a  strange  feeling 
came  over  him.  In  the  moonlight,  her  face  framed 
by  a  white  kerchief  seemed  lovelier  to  him  than  it 
had  since  the  days  of  his  wooing,  and  he  himself  felt 
so  full  of  youtli'ful  fire  and  knightly  daring  on  his 
way  to  the  field  of  danger  that,  witli  figure  drawn 
up  and  keeping  time  to  the  beat  of  the  drums,  he 
passed  behjw  her  and  with  his  left  hand  threw  her 
a  lover-like  kiss  and  lowered  the  sword  that  he  held 
in  his  rio-ht. 

The  beatino-  of  drums  and  wavino:  of  banners  had 
driven  all  gloomy  thoughts  from  his  mind  as  they 
went  on  to  the  Gansoort.  There  stood  a  cart,  the 
home  of  itinerant  traders,  wiiom  the  alarm  bell  had 
awakened  from  sleep  and  who  were  now  hurriedly 
gathering  together  their  wares.  An  old  woman, 
amid  many  lamentations,  was  harnessing  a  lean 
horse  to  the  shafts,  and  from  a  little  window  came 
the  wailing  voice  of  a  child  crying:  "Mother, 
mother,"  and  then,  "Father,"  and  again,  "Father." 

The  fencing-master  heard  the  cvj.  The  smile 
vanished  from  his  lips  and  his  step  grew  less  elastic. 
Then  he  turned  about  and  called  loudly  to  his  men, 
"Forward!"  Wilhelm  was  marching  close  behind 
him  and  approached  at  a  sign  from  the  captain. 
Allertssohn  took  the  musician's  arm  and  hastening 
his  pace,  said  in  an  undertone  : 

"  You  will  take  the  boy  and  teach  him?" 

"  Yes,  captain." 

"  Good ;  you  will  be  rewarded  for  it  some  day," 
answered  the  fencing-master,  and  waving  his  sword 
cried  :  "  Freedom  to  Holland,  death  to  the  Spaniard, 
long  life  to  Orange  !" 

The  soldiers  joined  in  heartily  and  they  marched 
at  a  quick  jjace  out  through  the  Hohenort  Gate  and 
on  toward  Ley derdorp. 


ISa  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 


CHAPTEE  XYIII. 

Adrian  hurried  home  with  the  bottle,  and,  in  his 
delight  at  bringing  relief  to  the  sick  friiulein,  he 
forgot  her  headache  and  let  the  knoclier  fall 
heavily  upon  the  door.  Barbara,  in  consequence, 
received  him  with  no  very  kindly  words,  but  he 
was  so  full  of  the  pleasure  of  possessing  the  dearly 
won  treasure  that  he  fearlessly  interrupted  his 
aunt's  reproaches  : 

"You  will  see;  I  have  something  here  for  the 
fraulein;  where  is  mother?" 

Barbara  saw  by  the  boy's  face  that  he  was  the 
bearer  of  some  good  news  that  absorbed  him  com- 
])letely,  and  the  fresh,  happy  boyish  face  was  so 
pleasing  that  she  forgot  to  scold  and  said  with  a 
good-natured  smile : 

"  You  make  me  quite  curious;  what  are  you  in 
such  haste  about  ?" 

"  I  have  bought  something ;  is  mother  up- 
stairs V 

"  Yes,  but  show  me  what  you  have  ?" 

"  A  remedy.  An  unfailing  one,  I  can  tell  you  ; 
a  remedy  for  headache." 

"A  remedy  for  headache?"  asked  the  widow  in 
astonishment.     "  Who  palmed  that  off  on  you  ?" 

"  Palmed  it  off  !"  repeated  the  lad,  laughing.  "  I 
got  it  for  less  than  its  price." 

"  Show  it  me,  child,"  commanded  Barbara,  reach- 
ing for  the  bottle,  but  Adrian  retreated,  hid  the 
bottle  behind  his  back,  and  said  : 


THE  BUJIGO MASTER'S  WIFE.  183 

"No,  aunt;  I  want  to  take  it  to  mother  my- 
self.'' 

"Was  ever  such  a  thing  heard  of!"  cried  the 
widow.  "  An  ass  tries  to  dance  on  the  tight  rope 
and  schoolboys  dabble  in  medicines.  Show  me 
the  thing  at  once  !  A  quack  doctor's  wares  were 
the  one  thing  we  lacked." 

"  Quack  doctor's  wares  I"  repeated  Adrian  indig- 
nantly. "  It  cost  me  all  my  spending  money  and  it 
is  a  good  medicine." 

During  this  little  passage  at  arms,  Doctor  Bon- 
tius  and  the  burgomaster's  wife  had  descended  the 
stairs.  The  doctor  had  heard  tlie  lad's  last  words 
and  asked  sternly : 

"  Where  did  you  get  the  stuff  ?" 

He  seized  the  hand  of  the  boy,  wdio  dared  not 
resist,  took  the  bottle  and  the  printed  prescription 
from  him,  and,  when  Adrian  had  answered  briefly: 
"From  Doctor  Morpurgo,"  went  on  angrily: 

"  The  stuff  is  good  for  throwing  away  and  that's 
all ;  but  one  must  take  care  and  not  poison  the 
fishes  with  it ;  and  the  thing  cost  half  a  gulden  ! 
You  are  a  wealthy  young  man,  Meister  Adrian  !  If 
you  have  any  superfluous  capital  again,  you  can 
lend  it  to  me." 

These  words  destroyed  the  lad's  innocent  pleasure, 
but  they  did  not  convince  him  and  he  defiantly 
turned  his  back  halfway  upon  the  doctor.  Barbara 
understood  what  was  passing  in  his  mind  and  wlns- 
pered  compassionately  to  the  doctor  and  to  her 
sister-in-law  : 

"  All  his  spending  money  to  help  the  friiulein." 

The  burgomaster's  wife  at  once  approached  the 
disappointed  child,  drew  his  curly  head  toward 
her,  and  silently  kissed  his  forehead,  while  the  doc- 
tor read  the  printed  label  and  then,  gravely  as  ever 
and  without  changing  a  muscle,  said  : 


184  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"  Morpurgo  cannot  be  such  a  fraud ;  this  medicine 
may  help  the  friiulein  after  all." 

Adrian  had  been  on  the  verge  of  tears.  Now  he 
gave  a  sigh  of  relief,  but  he  still  held  fast  to 
Maria's  hand  as  he  turned  his  face  toward  the 
doctor  again  and  listened  eagerly  as  the  latter 
continued  : 

"  Two  parts  marsh  trefoil,  one  part  peppermint, 
and  half  a  part  valerian.  The  last  especially  for 
women.  Steep  in  boiling  water  and  drink  a  cupful 
cold,  morning  and  night.  Not  bad — really,  not 
bad.  You  have  found  a  good  remedy  here,  master 
colleague.  I  have  something  else  to  say  to  you, 
moreover.  JVIy  boys  are  going  to  see  the  English 
riders  this  evening  and  they  would  like  to  have  you 
go  with  them.  You  can  begin  with  the  draught 
to-night." 

The  doctor  bowed  to  the  ladies  and  went  toward 
the  door.  Barbara  followed  him  into  the  street  and 
said  : 

"  Were  5''ou  in  earnest  in  3'our  directions  ?" 

"Certainly,  certainly,"  answered  the  doctor,  "my 
grandmother  often  used  this  remedy  for  headache 
and  she  was  a  clever  woman.  Morning  and  even- 
ing, and  proper  amount  of  rest." 

llenrika  occupied  a  pretty,  cheerfully  furnished 
room.  The  windows  overlooked  the  shady  court 
upon  which  opened  the  chamois-leather  workshops. 
She  was  allowed  to  sit  up  part  of  the  day  in  a 
cushioned  easy-chair.  Her  strong  constitution  was 
rapidly  recovering.  She  was  still  weak,  to  be  sure, 
and  the  headache  spoiled  wliole  daj's  and  nights. 
Maria's  gentle,  considerate  manner  was  soothing  to 
her  and  she  was  glad  to  have  beside  her  Barbara 
with  her  fresh  face  and  her  simple,  thoughtful,  help- 
ful ways. 

When  Maria  told    her  of  Adrian's  purchase  she 


TEE  BUROOMASTER'S   WIFE.  185 

was  deeply  touched,  but  when  the  lad  was  present 
she  concealed  her  emotion  under  teasing  words  and 
greeted  him  with  : 

"  Come  nearer,  my  preserver,  and  give  me  your 
hand." 

Ever  after  she  called  him,  "  \\\y  preserver,"  or,  as 
she  was  fond  of  mingling  Italian  with  her  Dutch  : 
"  Salvatore,"  or  "  Signor  Salvatore."  Indeed  she 
delighted  in  having  her  own  names  for  the  people 
about  her,  and  she  called  Barbara,  whose  name  she 
abhorred,  ^'  Babetta,"  and  the  gentle,  lovable,  little 
Elizabeth,  whom  she  was  especially  fond  of  having 
Avith  her  "the  elf."  The  burgomaster's  wife  alone 
remained  "  Frau  Maria,"  and  when  the  latter  once 
asked  jestingly  the  reason  for  such  neglect,  Henrika 
answered  that  her  name  suited  her  and  that  if  she 
had  been  called  "  Martha,"  she  w^ould  undoubtly 
have  called  her  "Maria." 

The  convalescent  had  had  a  good  day,  free  from 
pain,  and  when,  toward  evening,  Adrian  went  to 
see  the  English  riders,  and  the  moonlight  and  the 
perfume  of  the  blossoming  lindens  found  their  way 
through  the  open  windows  into  her  room,  she  asked 
Barbara  not  to  bring  a  light  and  begged  Maria  to 
sit  down  beside  her  and  talk  to  her. 

From  Adrian  and  Lieschen  the  talk  turned  upon 
their  own  childhood.  Henrika  had  grown  up  among 
her  fathers  boon  companions,  amid  the  clinking 
of  drinking  cups  and  hunting  cries,  Maria  in  a  quiet 
burgher  household,  and  what  each  told  the  other 
seemed  like  news  from  a  strange  world. 

"It  was  easy  for  you  to  grow  into  the  tall,  white 
lily  that  you  are,"  said  Henrika;  "  but  I  must  thank 
the  saints  that  I  am  no  v^'orse  than  I  am,  for  we 
grew  up  like  weetls,  and  if  the  love  for  singing  had 
not  been  inborn  in  me,  and  the  cha})lain  had  not 
been  so  tine  a  musician,  I  might  make  even  a  poorer 


186  TUB  BV  ROOM  AST  I<:R'S  WIFE. 

showino^  before  voii.  When  is  the  doctor  ffoinc:  to 
let  1110  hear  you  sing  ?" 

'*  Next  week  ;  bat  you  must  not  expect  too  much. 

vMoreover,  you  have  altogether  too  high  an  opinion 

of  me.     Think  of  the  proverb  of  the  still  waters.     It 

is  often  far  less  peaceful  in  the   depths   than   you 

imagine." 

"  But  you  have  learned  to  keep  the  surface  placid 
in  spite  of  storm  ;  and  I  have  not.  A  strange  peace 
has  come  over  me  here.  Whether  it  is  owing  to  my 
sickness  or  to  the  atmos|)here  of  this  house,  I  cannot 
say  ;  but  how  long  will  it  last  ?  My  soul  used  to  be 
like  the  sea  when  the  hissing  waves  dash  into  black 
al)ysses,  tlie  sea  gulls  scream,  and  the  fishermen's 
wives  pray  on  the  shore.  Now  the  sea  is  calm.  Do 
not  be  too  much  alarmed  if  the  tempest  should 
begin  afresh." 

The  bnro:omaster''s  wife  seized  the  excited  girl's 
hands  and  said  imploringly  : 

"  Be  calm,  be  calm,  Henrika.  You  must  think 
only  of  getting  well  now.  And  shall  I  confess 
something  to  you?  I  think  that  hard  things  are 
easier  to  bear  if  one  can  throw  them  off  impatiently 
like  the  sea  of  which  you  speak ;  with  me  they  pile 
one  on  top  of  another  and  lie  there  as  though 
buried  under  the  sand." 

"  Until  the  hurricane  comes  and  sweeps  it  away. 
I  do  not  wish  to  ])rophes3'  evil,  but  some  day  you 
will  remember  what  I  say.  What  a  wild,  careless 
creature  1  used  to  be !  Then  came  a  day  that 
altered  my  whole  life." 

"Was  it  faithless  love  that  changed  it?"  asked 
Maria  shyly. 

"No,  only  the  wrong  done  to  another  by  faith- 
less love,"  answered  llenrika  with  a  bitter  smile. 
"  When  I  was  a  chikl  my  inconstant  heart  beat 
more  quickly,  1  do  not  know  how  often.     First,  I 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  187 

felt  much  more  than  respect  for  the  one-eyed 
cliaplain,  our  music-master,  and  every  morning  used 
to  place  fresh  flowers  in  his  window,  but  he  never 
noticed  them.  Then — 1  may  have  been  fifteen — I 
returned  the  ardent  glances  of  a  handsome  page  of 
Graf  Brederode.  He  tried  to  be  tender  once,  and 
got  a  taste  of  my  riding- whip.  Then,  \Yhen  I  was 
sixteen,  came  a  handsome  young  noble  who  wished 
to  marry  me,  but  he  was  even  more  in  debt  than 
my  father  and  so  was  sent  home  again,  I  did  not 
shed  any  tears  for  him  and  when,  two  months 
hiter,  I  saw  at  a  tourney  in  Brussels  Don  Fredrique, 
the  son  of  the  great  Alva,  I  thought  I  loved  him  as 
much  as  ever  a  damosel  loved  her  Amadis,  although 
I  never  got  any  further  than  seeing  him.  Then 
came  the  storm  of  which  I  spoke  and  with  it  all 
love-making  was  at  an  end.  I  will  tell  you  all 
about  it  later;  there  is  no  need  for  me  to  keep  it 
secret,  for  everybody  knows  it.  Have  you  ever 
heard  of  m.j  sister  ?  No  ?  She  was  older  than  I — 
God  never*  made  any  one  more  perfect.  And  her 
singing  !  She  was  sent  to  my  aunt  and  there — but 
I  will  not  excite  myself  needlessly — to  be  brief,  the 
man  whom  she  had  loved  with  all  the  strength  of 
her  heart  brought  misery  upon  her,  and  my  father 
cursed  her  and  would  not  raise  a  finger  to  save  her. 
I  never  knew  mv  mother,  but  thanks  to  Anna  I 
never  missed  her.  Anna's  fate  opened  my  eyes  to 
men.  During  these  last  years  many  have  sought 
me,  but  I  was  wanting  in  faith  and  even  more  in 
love,  for  that  is  all  over  with  me." 

"Until  it  finds  its  way  to  you,"  answered  Maria. 
"  It  was  wrong  of  me  to  speak  to  you  about  it,  for 
it  3xcites  vou  and  does  no  good." 

"  Go  on  ;  it  does  do  one  good  to  unburden  one's 
heart.  Did  you  never  love  any  one  before  your 
husband  r 


188  THE  B  UROOMASTER  'S  WIFE. 

"  Love  ?  Xo,  Ilenrika,  I  have  never  really  loved 
any  one  but  liiin." 

"  And  your  heart  waited  for  the  burgomaster 
before  it  beat  faster?" 

"No,  it  was  not  always  tranquil ;  I  have  grown 
up  among  men,  3'oung  and  old,  and  of  course  1  was 
fonder  of  some  than  of  others." 

"And  surely  one  was  deai'er  than  the  rest?" 

"  I  do  not  deny  that.  At  the  time  of  my  sister's 
wedding  my  brother-in-law  brought  a  friend  with 
him,  a  young  nobleman  from  Germany,  and  he 
remained  several  weeks  with  us.  I  liked  him  and  1 
still  think  of  him  with  pleasure." 

"  Did  you  never  hear  from  him  again  ?" 

"  No  ;  and  who  knows  what  has  become  of  him  ? 
My  brother-in-law  expected  great  things  of  him  ; 
and,  indeed,  he  was  highly  gifted,  but  at  the  same 
time  he  w^as  reckless  and  foolhardy  and  must  have 
cost  his  mother  many  an  anxious  hour." 

"  You  must  tell  me  more  about  him." 

"  What  good  will  it  do,  Ilenrika  ?" 

"  I  don't  want  to  talk  any  more,  but  I  should  like 
to  lie  still  and  breathe  in  the  scent  of  the  lindens 
and  listen,  onh'  listen." 

"  No,  you  must  go  to  bed  now.  I  will  help  you 
and  when  you  have  been  alone  for  an  hour,  I  will 
come  back. 

"  One  learns  obedience  with  you  ;  but  when  my 
preserver  comes  back,  bring  him  here.  He  shall 
tell  me  about  the  English  riders.  There  comes 
Frau  Babetta  with  his  drink.  You  will  see  that  1 
take  it  ])unctually." 

The  boy  was  late  in  coming  home,  for  he  had 
enjoyed  all  the  delights  of  the  lair  with  thedoctois 
sons.  The  visit  that  he  was  allowed  to  make  Hen- 
rika  was  cut  short.  His  father  he  had  not  seen  at 
all,  for  he  had  gone  to  a  night  meeting  at  Y'c.n 
iironkhorst's. 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  189 

The  next  morning  the  holidays  would  be  over, 
school  would  begin  again,  and  Adrian  had  intended 
to  finish  his  school  tasks  that  evening.  But  the 
English  riders  had  interfered  and  he  could  not  pos- 
sibly appear  before  the  rector  without  his  exercise. 
He  admitted  this  frankly  to  his  mother,  and  she 
made  a  place  for  him  at  the  table  at  which  she  was 
sewing,  and  helped  the  young  Latin  student  with 
many  words  and  rules  that  she  had  learned  from 
her  dead  brother. 

When  there  lacked  but  half  an  hour  of  midnight, 
Barbara  entered  the  room,  saying : 

"That's  enouo'h  for  to-night:  there  will  be  tima 
to  finish  to-morrow  morning  before  school." 

Without  waiting  for  Maria's  answer,  she  closed 
the  lad's  books  and  began  to  collect  them. 

As  she  was  doing  so  the  room  was  shaken  by  a 
violent  knocking  at  the  house-door.  Maria  threw 
aside  her  sewing  and  started  from  her  seat,  while 
Barbara  cried  : 

"In  the  name  of  Heaven  what  is  the  matter?" 

Adrian  ran  hastily  into  his  father's  room  and 
opened  the  wandow. 

The  ladies  hurried  after  him,  and  before  they 
could  question  the  intruder  a  deep  voice  called  np 
to  them : 

"  Open  ;  I  must  come  in." 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?"  asked  Barbara,  who  could 
see  in  the  moonlight  that  it  was  a  soldier.  "  One 
can't  hear  one's  own  voice.     Stop  that  knocking." 

"  Call  the  burgomaster,"  cried  the  messenger,  who 
had  been  knocking  without  cessation.  "  Quick, 
woman,  the  Spaniards  are  coming," 

Barbara  screamed  and  clasped  her  hands.  Maria 
grew  pale,  but  she  did  not  lose  her  self-control  and 
answered : 

"  The  burgomaster  is  not  at  home,  but  I  will  send 
for  him.     Quick,  Adrian  ;  go  and  call  your  father." 


190  TUE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

The  bo}'  dashed  down  tlie  stairs,  and  in  the  hall 
met  the  servin<^-man  and  Trautchen.  The  old 
woman,  who  iiad  jumped  hastily  from  her  bed,  had 
wrapped  a  petticoat  about  her,  and  was  endeavoring 
with  trembling-  hands  to  unfasten  the  door.  The 
man-servant  thrust  her  aside,  and  as  soon  as  the  door 
swung-  back  on  its  hinges  Adrian  darted  out  and  ran 
as  for  a  wager  down  the  street  to  Van  Bronkhorst's 
house.  He  reached  there  before  any  other  messen- 
ger, pushed  through  the  open  door  into  the  dining- 
room,  and  cried  breathlessly  to  the  men  sitting  m 
consultation  over  their  wine  : 

"  The  Spaniards  are  here  !" 

The  gentlemen  started  from  their  seats.  Some 
wished  to  hasten  to  the  citadel,  others  to  the  Rath- 
haus,  and  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment  no  sen- 
sible decision  could  be  arrived  at.  Peter  van  der 
Werff  had  alone  retained  his  composure,  and 
when  Allertssohn's  messenger  appeared  and  in- 
formed him  that  the  captain  with  his  men  was  on 
on  the  way  to  Le3^derdorp,  the  burgomaster  pointed 
out  that  the  authorities'  entire  attention  should  be 
devoted  to  the  safety  of  the  people  at  the  fair.  He 
and  \^an  Hout  undertook  to  see  to  them,  and  Adrian 
was  soon  standing  with  his  father  amid  the  assem- 
bling people  who  had  been  roused  from  their  sleep 
by  the  brazen  voice  of  the  alarm  bell  from  the 
tower  of  Pancratius. 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE,  191 


CHAPTEK  XIX. 

Adrian's  activity  for  the  night  was  not  yet  over, 
for  his  father  did  not  prevent  his  following  him  to 
the  Rathliaus.  There  he  commissioned  the  hid  to 
tell  his  mother  that  he  would  be  busy  till  morning, 
and  that  the  man-servant  should  direct  all  persons 
who  wished  to  see  him  after  one  o'clock  to  the 
Holzmarkt  on  the  Rhine.  Maria  sent  the  boy 
back  to  the  Kathhaus  to  ask  his  father  if  he  did 
not  want  his  coat  or  something  to  eat. 

The  lad  executed  these  commissions  with  great 
alacrity,  for  as  he  pushed  his  way  through  the 
crowds  that  thronged  the  narrow  streets,  he  felt 
more  important  than  he  ever  had  before  ;  he  had  a 
duty  to  discharge  and  that  at  night,  the  bedtime  of 
other  boys  and  especially  of  his  companions,  who 
certainly  were  not  allowed  out  of  the  house  at  this 
hour.  In  addition,  he  might  look  forward  to  stir- 
ring times,  full  of  the  beating  of  drums,  blaring  of 
trumpets,  rattle  of  musketry,  and  thunder  of  cannon. 
It  seemed  to  him  as  though  the  boyish  game 
"Holland  against  Spain"  was  about  to  be  continued 
in  earnest  and  on  a  large  scale. 

The  full  enjoyment  of  life  peculiar  to  his  years 
took  possession  of  him,  and  when  he  had  elbowed 
his  way  to  less  frequented  streets,  he  sped  away  and 
shouted  into  the  night  as  cheerfully  as  though  he 
had  some  good  tidings  to  ])roclaim :  "  They  are 
coming!"  "The  Spaniards!"  or  '-'' Hannibal  ante 
jportas  r 


192  THE  B  UROOMASTER  'S  WIFE. 

"When  he  learned  upon  his  return  to  the  Rathhaus 
that  his  father  needed  nothinf^  and  that  if  he 
required  anything  he  Avouhl  send  a  constable,  he 
considered  tliat  his  duties  were  at  an  end  and  that 
he  was  at  liberty  to  satisfy  his  own  curiosity. 

He  went  first  to  the  English  riders.  The  tent  in 
which  they  had  given  their  performance  had 
vanished  from  the  earth  and  shouting  men  and 
women  were  folding  together  huge  rolls  of  canvas, 
fastening  bales,  and  harnessing  hoi-ses  amid  a  shower 
of  oaths.  The  lurid  o-lare  of  torches  minjjled  with 
the  light  of  the  moon  and  showed  him,  on  the 
narrow  steps  that  led  to  a  large  house  on  wheels,  a 
little  girl  in  shabby  burgher  dress,  crying  bitterly. 
Could  that  be  the  rose-colored  angel  who  had  seemed 
like  a  happy  being  from  another  world  as  she 
hovered  above  the  back  of  a  milk-white  steed  ? 
Then  a  shrieking  old  woman  lifted  the  child  into 
the  van  and  he  followed  the  moving  crowd  and  saw 
mounted  on  a  lean  nag  Doctor  Morpurgo,  no  longer 
in  scarlet  but  in  sober  cloth,  riding  beside  his  cart. 
The  negro  angrily  urged  on  the  mule  attached  to 
the  vehicle,  but  his  master  seemed  to  have  remained 
in  possession  of  his  usual  calm.  His  wares  were  of 
little  value  and  the  Spaniards  had  no  cause  for 
depriving  him  of  his  head,  or  his  tongue,  with  which 
he  earned  more  than  he  needed. 

Adrian  followed  him  to  the  long  row  of  booths  in 
the  wide  street  and  there  he  saw  things  that  sub- 
dued his  high  spirits  and  made  him  realize  more 
and  more  that  grave  and  heartrending  events  were 
passing.  He  could  still  have  laughed  as  he  watched 
tlie  gingerbread  bakers  and  yarn  dealers  who  had 
come  to  blows,  because,  in  their  first  alarm,  they 
had  tossed  their  wares  promiscuously  into  each 
other's  boxes  and  were  now  unable  to  separate  thei? 
belongings;    but   be   was   heartily   sorry   for    th^ 


TBE  B  URGOMASTER  'S  WIFE.  1 93 

vendor  of  Delft  earthenware,  for  a  wagon  from 
Gouda,  loaded  with  huge  bales,  had  knocked  down 
her  frail  stand  and  she  was  standing  wringing  her 
hands  over  her  broken  wares,  with  which  she  earned 
a  living  for  herself  and  her  children,  while  tlie 
driver,  without  heeding  lier,  urged  on  his  horses 
with  resounding  blows  of  the  whip.  A  little  girl, 
who  had  become  separated  from  her  parents  and 
was  being  led  away  by  a  compassionate  burgher's 
wife,  filled  the  air  with  her  cries.  A  poor  rope- 
dancer,  from  whom  a  thief  had  stolen  the  little  tin 
box  that  contained  the  pennies  he  had  scraped  to- 
gether, was  running  about  wringing  his  hands  and 
seeking  the  watchman.  A  cobbler  was  cramming 
riding-boots  and  ladies'  slijipers  pellmell  into  a 
wooden  case  with  handles  of  hemp,  while  his  wife, 
instead  of  helping  him,  tore  her  hair  and  screamed : 
"  I  told  you  so,  you  fool,  you  dolt,  3^ou  blockhead ! 
They  are  coming  and  will  take  everything  away 
from  us." 

At  the  entrance  to  the  street  that  led  past  the 
Assendelft  house  to  the  Liebfrauenbriicke,  several 
laden  vans  had  become  entans^led,  and,  in  their 
terror,  the  drivers,  instead  of  getting  down  and  pro- 
curing help,  began  to  belabor  each  other,  and  in 
doing  so  struck  the  women  and  children  who  were 
seated  among  the  bales.  Their  screams  and  shrieks 
coukl  be  heard  afar  ofT,  but  even  they  were  drowned  ; 
for  at  the  north  end  a  dancing  bear  had  gotten 
loose  and  put  to  flight  all  who  were  near  him. 
Shrieking  and  yelling,  the  terrified  people  came 
rushing  down  the  street,  carrying  with  them  others 
who  knew  nothing  of  the  cause  of  their  alarm,  and 
led  astray  by  the  danger  that  lay  nearest,  screamed  : 
"The  Spaniards!  The  Spaniards!"  Whatever 
stood  in  the  way  of  the  panic-stricken  mob  was 
overthrown.      The    child    of    a    sieve-dealer    was 


194  TUE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

knocked  down  under  the  feet  of  the  crowd,  beside 
his  father's  overturned  cart,  close  to  Adrian,  who 
iiad  retreated  into  a  doorway.  But  tlie  lad  was 
unable  to  spring  to  the  child's  assistance,  as  he  was 
liriuly  wedged  into  his  place  of  refuge,  and  his  at- 
tention was  attracted  in  another  direction  by  the 
appearance  of  Janus  Dousa  mounted  on  horseback. 
He  was  riding  toward  the  terror-stricken  mob. 
Above  the  cries  of,  "The  Spaniards!  The 
Spaniards  !"  rose  his  penetrating  voice  :  "  Peace, 
peace,  my  friends !  The  enemy  has  not  yet 
come!  To  the  llhine,  to  the  Rhme !  There  are 
ships  there,  awaiting  all  strangers.  To  the  Ehine ! 
There  are  no  Spaniards  here,  I  tell  you,  no 
Spaniards !" 

The  jonker  pulled  up  close  to  Adrian,  for  his 
horse  could  advance  no  furtlier  and  was  snortinic 
and  trembling  under  his  rider.  The  nobleman's 
exhortation  bore  little  fruit  and  it  was  not  until 
hundreds  had  rushed  past  him  that  the  number  of 
affrighted  fugitives  grew  less.  The  bear  before 
which  they  had  fled  had  long  since  been  captured 
by  brewers'  men  and  led  back  to  his  owner.  The 
city  constables  now  appeared  under  the  burgo- 
master's command  and  tlie  boy  followed  them  un- 
noticed to  the  Holzmarkt  on  the  south  bank  of  the 
Rhine.  There  they  were  met  by  another  crowd, 
for  many  traders  had  hastened  hither  to  place  their 
goods  in  the  shi})s.  Men  and  women  were  pressing 
over  bales  and  merchandise  that  were  being  rolled 
down  narrow  gangplanks  into  the  ships.  A 
woman,  a  child,  and  a  roj)e-nuiker's  cart  had  been 
pushed  into  the  water,  and  it  was  at  this  point  that 
the  wildest  confusion  prevailed.  But  the  burgo- 
master arrived  at  the  right  moment,  directed  the 
rescue  of  the  drowning  woman  and  child,  and  set 
about  bringing  order  out  of  chaos.     The  constables 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  195 

were  ordered  to  let  the  fugitives  board  only  tbose 
ships  that  were  bound  for  the  places  to  which  they 
belonged  ;  from  each  ship  two  planks  were  put  out, 
one  for  passengers  and  one  for  merchandise  ;  the 
messengers  of  the  council  proclaimed  that — as  the 
law  directed  whenever  the  tocsin  sounded — all 
burghers  were  to  enter  their  houses  and  the  streets 
to  be  cleared,  under  pain  of  a  heavy  penalty.  All 
the  gates  were  thrown  open  for  the  passage  of 
vehicles,  exit  being  alone  prohibited  from  the 
Hohenort  Gate,  which  led  to  Leyderolorp.  Thus 
the  streets  were  cleared,  order  was  restored  among 
the  crowd,  and  when  Adrian  returned  at  dawn  to 
his  home,  there  was  little  more  stir  in  the  streets 
than  on  ordinary  nights. 

His  mother  and  Barbara  had  been  anxious  about 
him,  but  he  told  them  about  his  father  and  in  what 
way  he  had  seen  him  put  a  stop  to  the  tumult. 

As  he  was  speaking  musket  shots  could  be  heard 
in  the  distance  and  these  filled  him  with  such 
excitement  that  he  wanted  to  go  out  again  ;  but  his 
mother  restrained  him  and  he  had  to  resign  himself 
to  going  to  his  room.  He  did  not  go  to  bed,  how- 
ever, but  climbed  to  the  upper  loft  in  the  gable  at 
the  back  of  the  house  and  looked  out  from  the 
window,  through  which  the  bales  of  leather  were 
hoisted,  toward  the  east,  from  whence  muskets  shots 
were  still  to  be  heard.  He  could  see  nothing  but 
the  flush  of  dawn  and  fleecy  clouds  of  smoke  that 
curled  upward,  tinged  with  pink.  As  nothing  else 
appeared,  his  eyelids  closed  and  he  fell  asleep  by 
the  open  window  and  dreamed  of  a  blood}'  fight  and 
of  the  English  riders. 

His  sleep  was  so  deep  that  he  did  not  hear  the 
rumble  of  wheels  that  sounded  from  the  quiet  court- 
yard beneath.  The  carts  from  which  the  sound 
proceeded  belonged  to  merchants  from  neighboring 


196  THE  B URQOM ASTER 'S  WIFE. 

towns  who  preferred  to  leave  their  wares  in  the 
threatened  city  to  carrying  them  toward  the  ap- 
proaching Spaniards.  Meister  Peter  had  given 
]iermission  to  some  of  these  to  leave  their  goods 
with  him.  The  wagons  had  to  pass  through  tlie 
rear  buildings  where  the  workshops  were,  and  such 
wares  as  might  be  injured  by  the  weather  were  to 
be  carried  in  the  course  of  the  day  into  the  spacious 
garret  of  his  house. 

The  burgomaster's  wife  had  gone  to  Ilenrika's 
room  at  midnight  in  order  to  quiet  her,  but  the  con- 
valescent betra^'ed  no  uneasiness,  and  when  she 
learned  that  the  Spaniards  were  advancing  her  eyes 
lighted  up  joyously.  Maria  saw  it  and  turned 
away  from  her  guest ;  but  she  kept  back  the  sharp 
words  that  rose  to  her  lips,  wished  Henrika  good- 
night, and  left  the  room. 

llenrika  looked  after  her  thoughtfully  and  raised 
herself  in  bed,  for  there  could  be  no  further  thought 
of  sleep  that  night.  The  ringing  from  the  tower  of 
Pancratius  never  ceased  and  more  than  once  there 
was  the  sound  of  voices  and  of  opening  doors  and  of 
distant  firing.  Many  noises,  the  cause  and  nature 
of  which  she  could  not  determine,  reached  her  ears, 
and  as  morning  dawned  the  usually  silent  courtyard 
under  lier  window  grew  animated. 

There  was  the  rattling  of  wagons  and  confused 
shouting.  A  deep,  masculine  voice  seemed  to  be 
directing  what  was  going  on  below.  Her  curiosity 
and  uneasiness  increased  from  minute  to  minute. 
She  listened  with  such  strained  attention  that  her 
head  began  to  ache  again,  but  she  could  hear  only 
occasional  words  and  then  indistinctly.  Had  the  city 
been  delivered  to  the  Spaniards?  Had  the  soldiers 
of  King  Philip  taken  u))  their  quarters  in  the  burgo- 
master's iiouse  ?  Her  blood  rose  angrily  as  she 
thought  of  the  triumj)ii  of  the   Castilians  and  the 


TUE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  197 

humiliation  of  her  country,  but  she  was  soon  filled 
with  the  joyous  emotion  she  had  first  felt,  for  she 
saw  art  re-entering  the  bare,  despoiled  churches  of 
Leyden,  chanting  processions  moving  through  the 
streets,  and  holy  mass  being  celebrated  by  priests  in 
rich  vestments  in  the  freshly  adorned  churches,  to 
the  accompaniment  of  sweet  singing,  the  tinkling  of 
bells,  and  the  odor  of  incense.  She  expected  to 
recover  at  the  Spaniards'  hands  a  place  where  she 
could  pray  in  her  own  way  and  unburden  her  soul 
by  confession.  In  her  former  surroundings  her 
religion  had  been  her  one  consolation.  A  worthy 
priest  had  been  her  teacher  and  had  earnestly 
striven  to  make  her  see  that  the  new  faith  threatened 
to  destroy  the  mystical  sacredness  of  life,  the  longing 
for  the  beautiful,  every  ideal  emotion  of  the  human 
soul,  and  with  them  all  art,  and  therefore  Henrika 
preferred  to  see  her  country  Spanish  and  Catholic 
rather  than  free  from  the  foreigners  whom  she 
hated,  and  Calvanistic. 

Gradually  it  grew  quieter  in  the  courtyard  but 
when  the  first  ra\'s  of  the  morning  sun  touched  her 
window,  the  stir  began  anew.  Heavy  footsteps 
sounded  on  the  pavement,  and  among  the  voices  that 
mingled  with  those  she  had  heard  before  she  recoo;- 
nized  Maria's  and  Barbara's.  Yes,  she  was  not 
mistaken.  That  cry  of  horror  could  come  onl}'' 
from  the  lips  of  her  friend,  and  it  was  followed  by 
exclamations  of  sorrow  from  bearded  lips,  and  loud 
sobbing.  Bad  news  must  have  come  to  the  house 
of  her  hosts,  and  the  woman  who  was  weeping  so 
bitterly  must  be  good  "  Babetta." 

She  could  no  longer  stay  in  bed.  On  the  table 
near  by,  amid  bottles  and  glasses,  near  the  candle 
and  tinder  box,  stood  the  little  bell,  at  the  slightest 
sound  of  which  one  of  her  nurses  invariably  appeared. 
Henrika  rang  it  twice,  then  again  and  again,  but  no 


198  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

one  carae.  Finally,  impelled  partly  b}'-  impatience 
and  vexation,  partly  by  curiosity  and  sympathy'',  she 
slipped  into  her  shoes  and  her  morning  gown,  crossed 
to  the  chair  that  stood  on  the  platform  in  the  recess, 
pushed  up  the  window,  and  looked  down  at  the 
group  immediately  below  her. 

No  one  noticed  her,  for  the  men  who  stood  sor- 
row f  idly  around,  and  the  tearful  women,  Maria  and 
Barbara  among  them,  listened  with  every  sign  of 
sympathy  to  the  eager  recital  of  a  young  man  and 
had  eyes  and  ears  for  no  one  but  him.  Ilennka 
recognized  in  the  speaker  the  musician,  Wilhelm,  but 
only  by  his  voice,  for  the  helmet  on  his  head  and  the 
blood-stained  coat  of  mail  gave  a  warlike,  indeed  an 
heroic  air  to  the  unpretentious  musician. 

lie  was  already  well  along  in  his  story  when 
Henrika  became  an  unseen  listener. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  he  replied  in  answer  to  a  question 
rrom  tlie  burgomaster,  "  we  followed  them,  but  they 
disappeared  into  the  village  again  and  all  remained 
quiet.  It  would  have  been  madness  to  attempt  to 
storm  the  houses.  So  we  kept  quiet,  but  about  two 
o'clock  we  heard  firing  in  the  neighborhood  of  Ley- 
derdorp.  •  The  Jonker  van  Warmond  must  have 
made  a  sally,'  said  the  captain,  and  led  us  in  the 
•lirection  of  the  firing.  This  was  what  the  Spaniards 
wanted,  for  long  before  we  reached  our  destination, 
a  company  of  Castilians  with  white  tunics  over  their 
armor  rose  out  of  a  ditch,  flung  themselves  on  their 
knees,  muttered  a  paternoster,  shouted  their  '  Santi- 
ago,' and  bore  down  u])on  us.  We  had  seen  them 
in  time  and  the  halberdiers  were  able  to  set  their 
])ikes,  and  the  musketeers  to  kneel  down  and  la\'  the 
slow-match  to  the  powder.  So  we  gave  the  Span- 
iards a  warm  reception  and  four  of  them  fell  in  the 
charge.  We  were  superior  to  them  in  numbers,  and 
their  captain  led  them  back  to  the   ditch  in   good 


TUE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  I99 

order.  There  they  remained,  for  their  purpose  was 
undoubtedly  none  other  than  to  delay  us  and  then 
let  us  be  cut  off  by  a  larger  body.  We  were  too 
weak  to  drive  thein  from  their  position,  but  when 
morning  began  to  dawn  and  still  they  would  not 
come  out,  our  captain  advanced  toward  them  with 
a  white  flag  and  a  drummer,  and  shouted  to  them  in 
Italian  that  he  wished  their  lordships  a  good  morning 
and  that  if  they  had  among  them  an  officer  with  a 
spark  of  honor  in  his  body,  to  let  him  come  out  and 
place  himself  before  a  captain  who  wished  to  cross 
swords  with  him.  He  gave  him  his  word  that  his 
men  would  look  on  impassively  at  the  duel,  no  mat- 
ter what  the  result  might  be.  At  this  moment  two 
shots  were  fired  from  the  ditch  and  the  balls  came 
very  near  hitting  the  poor  captain.  We  called  to 
him  to  think  of  his  own  life,  but  he  did  not  move 
and  shouted  to  them  that  they  were  cowards  and 
assassins  like  their  king. 

"In  the  meantime  it  had  grown  comparatively 
light — we  heard  the  sound  of  arguing  in  the  ditch 
and  just  as  AUertssohn  was  about  to  turn  away,  an 
officer  sprang  out  and  cried  :  '  Stand,  braggart,  and 
draw.'  The  captain  drew  his  Brescian  sword,  bowed 
to  his  opponent  as  though  they  were  in  the  fencing- 
room,  bent  his  steel,  and  measured  it  with  the 
Castilian's.  He  was  a  thin  man  of  imposing  height 
and  distinguished  bearing,  and,  as  was  soon  shown, 
a  dangerous  swordsman.  He  circled  around  the 
captain  like  a  whirlwind,  dodging,  thrusting,  feint- 
ing, but  AUertssohn  kept  his  head  and  confined 
himself  at  first  to  skillful  parries.  Then  he  got  in 
a  beautiful  carte,  and,  as  tlie  other  ])ai'ricd  it.  he  fol- 
lowed with  a  tierce,  and,  tiiis  being  warded  off, 
quick  as  lightning  with  a  seconde  as  he  alone  could 
give.  The  Castilian  fell  on  his  knees,  for  the  sword 
had  pierced  his  lung.     In  a  short  time  he  was  dead. 


200  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE, 

As  soon  as  he  lay  stretched  upon  the  grass,  the 
Spaniards  fell  upon  us  anew,  but  we  drove  them 
back  a<i:ain  and  took  tlie  officer's  bodv  into  our 
midst.  1  have  never  seen  the  caj)tain  so  proud  and 
ha'^ppy  as  he  was  then.  You,  Jonker  van  Warmond, 
can  readily  guess  the  reason.  He  had  done  honor 
to  his  series  in  a  real  duel  with  an  opponent  who 
was  his  equal,  and  he  said  to  me  that  this  was  the 
happiest  morning  he  had  ever  known.  Then  he 
gave  orders  to  make  a  circuit  of  the  ditch  and 
attack  the  enem\'  on  the  flank.  But  hardly  had  we 
begun  to  advance,  when  the  expected  trooj)s 
pressed  forward  from  Leyderdorp.  Their  cry  of 
'  Santiao'o'  echoed  far  and  wide  and  at  the  same  time 
our  old  enemies  came  out  from  the  ditch  and 
attacked  us.  Allertssohn  rushed  forward,  but  he 
(lid  not  reach  them.  Ah,  gentlemen,  I  shall  never 
ftjrget  it— a  ball  struck  him  down  at  my  side.  It 
must  have  penetrated  his  heart,  for  all  he  said  was : 
'Remember  the  lad!'  then  his  mighty  frame  stiff 
ened  and  he  was  dead.  We  wanted  to  take  his  body 
with  us,  but  the  numbers  pressed  too  heavily  u]wn 
us,  and  it  was  all  we  could  do  to  come  in  tolerable 
order  within  range  of  the  jonker's  volunteers.  The 
Spaniards  dared  not  venture  so  far.  Here  we  are. 
The  Castilian's  body  lies  in  the  tower  at  the 
Hohenort  Gate.  Here  are  the  papers  that  we 
found  in  the  dead  man's  doublet,  and  this  is  his 
ring;  his  escutcheon  is  a  noble  one." 

Peter  van  der  Wertf  took  the  dead  man's  wallet, 
turned  the  papers  over,  and  said :  "  Don  Louis  d' 
Avila  was  his  name." 

He  said  no  more,  for  his  wife  had  caught  sight  of 
Henrika's  head  stretched  far  out  of  the  window 
and  exclaimed  in  a  startled  voice :  "  Friiulein,  in 
Heaven's  name,  friiulein — what  are  you  doing  f' 


TEE  BUMGOMASTEB'S  WIFE.  201 


CHAPTER  XX. 

The  burgomaster's  wife  had  been  alarmed  about 
Henrika,  but  the  latter  received  her  with  unusual 
animation  and  met  her  gentle  reproaches  with  the 
assurance  that  the  morning  had  done  her  good. 
Fate  was  just,  she  said,  and  if  it  were  true  that  con- 
fidence in  recovery  aided  the  doctors,  Doctor 
Bontius  would  have  an  easy  time  with  her.  The 
fallen  Castilian  could  be  none  other  than  the  wretch 
who  had  plunged  her  sister  into  misery.  Maria, 
amazed  but  completely  reassured,  left  her  and  went 
in  search  of  her  husband  to  tell  him  how  she  had 
found  the  invalid  and  the  relation  in  which  the 
Spanish  officer  killed  b}'  Allertssohn  seemed  to 
have  stood  to  Henrika  and  her  sister.  Peter 
listened  with  divided  attention,  and  when  Barbara 
brought  him  a  freshly  ironed  ruff,  he  interrupted 
his  wife  in  the  midst  of  her  story  and  handed  her 
the  dead  man's  wallet,  saying  : 

"There,  let  her  convince  herself,  and  bring  it 
back  to  me  to-nio-ht.  I  shall  hardlv  be  home  to 
dinner ;  during  the  day  you  will  go  and  see  poor 
Allertssohn's  widow." 

"  Yes,  indeed,"  she  answered  readily.  "  And  whom 
will  you  put  in  his  place  ?" 

"  The  prince  must  decide  that." 

"Have  you  thought  of  means  of  keeping  com- 
munication open  with  Delft?" 

"  You  are  thinking  of  your  mother  ?" 

"  Not   that   alone.     Rotterdam   also   lies   to  the 


202  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

south.  From  ITaarlem  and  Amsterdam,  that  is,  the 
north,  we  can  expect  nothing,  for  everytliing  there 
is  in  the  hands  of  the  Spaniards." 

"  I  shall  make  a  place  for  you  in  the  council  of 
war.     "Where  do  you  get  all  3'our  wisdom  ?" 

"  I  have  my  own  thoughts,  and  is  it  not  natural 
that  I  would  rather  follow  you  into  the  future  with 
my  QjQS  open  than  blindly  ?  Have  you  made  use 
of  the  English  regiment  to  strengthen  the  works 
on  the  old  canal?  Kaak,  too,  is  an  important 
point." 

Peter  looked  at  his  wife  in  amazement,  and  he 
was  seized  by  that  uncomfortable  feeling  that  takes 
possession  of  an  inexperienced  writer  when  some 
one  looks  unbidden  over  his  shoulder.  She  had 
pointed  out  a  grave  error,  which  might  have  serious 
consequences,  for  which,  indeed,  he  was  not  alone 
responsible  ;  but,  as  he  did  not  wish  to  excuse  him- 
self to  her,  and,  perhaps,  succeed  ill  in  his  justifica- 
tion, he  made  no  reply  other  than  :  "  Those  are 
men's  affairs  !  Good-by  until  to-night."  Then  he 
w'alked  past  Barbara  toward  the  door. 

Maria  did  not  know  how  it  happened,  but  before 
he  laid  his  hand  on  the  latch  she  had  controlled 
herself  sufficiently  to  call  after  him  : 

"You  are  going  like  this,  Peter!  Is  it  right? 
What  did  you  promise  me  on  your  return  from  the 
prince  V 

"1  know,  I  know,"  he  answered  impatiently. 
"  One  cannot  serve  two  masters,  and  in  these  times 
I  beg  of  you  not  to  trouble  me  with  questions  and 
thinjrs  that  don't  concern  vou.  It  is  for  me  to  di- 
rect  the  affairs  of  the  city.  You  have  your  invalid 
guest,  the  children,  the  poor.     Let  that  be  enough." 

Without  waiting  for  her  answer,  he  left  the  room, 
while  she  stood  motionless,  staring  after  him. 

Barbara  watched  her  for  several  moments  ;  then 


THE  B  UROOMA 8TER  '8  WIFE.  203 

pretending  to  busy  herself  with  the  papers  on  her 
brother's  desk,  she  said,  as  though  to  herself,  but 
half  turned  toward  Maria: 

"  These  are  bad  times.  Any  one  who  is  not  op- 
pressed by  such  cares  as  Peter  is  may  thank  the 
Lord,  lie  has  to  bear  the  responsibility  of  every- 
thing, and  even  those  who  are  nimble  of  foot  cannot 
dance  with  hundred-pound  weights  on  their  legs, 
No  one  has  a  better  heart,  and  no  one  means  more 
honestly  than  he.  How  the  traders  at  the  fair 
praised  his  prudence  !  In  times  of  storm,  people 
recognize  the  pilot.  And  Peter  was  always  greatest 
when  things  were  at  their  worst.  He  knows  what 
he  is  undertaking,  but  tiie  last  weeks  have  aged  him 
years.  We  nmst  overlook  many  things  in  liim,  it 
seems  to  me." 

Maria  nodded, and  Barbara  left  the  room.  When 
she  returned,  a  few  moments  later,  she  said  im- 
ploringly : 

"  You  look  badly,  child  ;  come  and  lie  down.  An 
hour's  sleep  is  better  than  three  meals.  Such  a 
wakeful  night  as  the  last  does  not  pass  without 
leaving  some  trace.  The  sun  was  shining  so  brightly 
that  I  have  drawn  down  the  curtains.  And  I  have 
gotten  your  bed  ready.     Be  sensible,  and  come." 

As  she  spoke,  she  took  Maria  by  the  hand  and 
led  her  away.  Maria  did  not  resist,  and  although 
her  eyes  did  not  remain  dry  when  she  was  alone, 
she  was  soon  overcome  by  sleep. 

Toward  noon,  refreshed  and  newly  dressed,  she 
betook  herself  to  the  captain's  house.  Eva  Peters- 
tochter,  the  fencing-masters  widow,  a  quiet,  mod- 
est woman,  whom  she  scarcely  knew  by  sight,  was 
not  to  be  seen.  She  was  sitting  alone  in  her  room, 
weeping;  but  Maria  found  in  the  house  the  musi- 
cian, Wilhelm,  who  was  talking  comfortingly  to  his 
dead  friend's  son,  and  had  promised  to  take  charge 
of  him  and  make  hira  a  famous  musician. 


204  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

The  burgomaster's  wife  left  word  that  she  hoped 
that  the  widow  would  receive  her  on  the  following 
day,  and  then  went  out  with  the  musician.  Every- 
where groups  of  burghers,  journeymen,  and  women 
\\QYQ  standing,  discussing  what  had  happened  and 
the  evil  that  was  to  come.  While  Maria  was  telling 
the  musician  who  the  fallen  Spaniard  was,  and  that 
Henrika  wished  to  speak  to  him  as  soon  as  possible, 
she  was  interrui)ted  more  than  once ;  now  coni])an- 
ies  of  vohmteers  or  burgher  guards  marched  ])ast 
on  their  way  to  relieve  the  watch  on  the  towers 
and  walls  ;  now  a  cannon  blocked  the  wa3\  Was  it 
the  anticipation  of  coming  events,  or  was  it  the  roll 
of  the  di'ums  and  the  blasts  of  trumpet  that  agitated 
her  escort  so  greatly  that  he  often  raised  his  hand 
to  his  forehead,  and "^  she  was  obliged  to  ask  him  to 
slacken  his  pace.  There  was  an  unusual,  suppressed 
tone  in  his  voice  as,  in  obedience  to  her  request,  he 
told  her  that  the  Spaniards  had  come  by  ship  up  the 
Amstel,  the  Drecht,  and  the  Braasem  Sea  to  the 
Ehine,  and  had  landed  at  Leyderdorp. 

lie  was  interrupted  by  a  mounted  messenger, 
wearing  the  prince's  colors,  and  followed  not  only 
by  children,  but  by  grown  men,  who  were  trying  to 
reach  the  Rathhaus  at  the  same  time  as  the  messen- 
ger ;  and  as  soon  as  the  crowd  had  passed,  the 
burgomaster's  wife  put  question  after  question  to 
her  companion.  The  sounds  of  war,  the  distant 
firing,  the  bright  uniforms  that  were  everywhere  to 
be  seen  in  the  [)lace  of  the  sober  bui'glier  dress, 
filled  her  too  with  lively  suspense,  and  what  she 
heard  from  Wilhelm  was  not  calculated  to  lessen  it. 
The  main  body  of  the  Spanish  troops  was  on  the 
way  to  the  Hague.  The  investing  of  the  city  had 
already  begun,  but  the  enemy  would  scarcely  suc- 
ceed in  his  object,  for  the  English  allies  who  were 
to  defend  the  new  fortifications  of  Yalkenburg,  the 


THE  BUROOM ASTER' 8  WIFE.  205 

village  of  Alfen,  and  the  Gouda  Lock,  were  to  be 
relied  upon.  Wilhelni  had  liimself  seen  the  British 
soldiers,  their  commander,  Colonel  Chester,  and 
Captain  Gensforth,  and  praised  tlieir  fine  equipments 
and  military  bearing. 

The  burgomaster's  wife  was  about  to  take  leave 
of  her  companion  at  the  door  of  her  house,  when 
AVilhelm  urgently  begged  to  be  allowed  to  speak 
with  the  fhiulein  at  once,  and  it  was  with  difficulty 
that  she  convinced  him  that  he  must  be  patient 
until  the  doctor  had  given  his  consent. 

At  dinner,  Adrian,  who  was  always  talkative 
enough  when  his  father  was  not  present,  related  all 
the  things  he  had  seen,  as  well  as  the  news  and  rumors 
that  he  had  gathered  at  school  and  on  the  streets, 
and  his  loquacity  was  not  a  little  encouraged  by  his 
mother's  eager  questions. 

A  great  uneasiness  had  taken  possession  of  the 
burgomaster's  wife.  Her  enthusiasm  for  the  cause 
of  liberty,  to  which  her  dearest  had  fallen  victims, 
blazed  up  brightly,  and  hatred  of  the  oppressors  of 
her  country  stirred  passionately  in  her  breast.  The 
gentle,  retiring  young  wife,  who  under  ordinary  cir- 
cumstances, was  incapable  of  any  harsh  or  loud 
expression  of  feeling,  would  now  have  hastened 
with  the  men  to  the  ramparts,  there,  like  Kenau 
Hasselaer  of  Haarlem,  to  fight  against  the  foe. 

Wounded  pride  and  everything  that  had  oppressed 
her  heart  an  hour  before  gave  place  to  sympathy 
for  her  country's  cause.  Filled  with  new  energy, 
she  went  to  Ilenrika,  and  wdien  evening  came  on, 
seated  herself  by  the  lamp  to  write  to  her  mother, 
which  she  had  neglected  to  do  since  the  sick  girl's 
arrival,  and  communication  with  Delft  might  soon 
be  cut  off. 

VVhen  she  read  her  letter  over,  she  was  satisfied 
with  it  and  herself,  for  it  breathed  firm  belief  in  tljc 


206  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

triumph  of  the  good  cause  and  expressed  plainly  and 
uncoustraiuedly  how  glad  and  ready  she  was  to 
endure  the  worst. 

Barbara  had  already  gone  to  bed  when  Peter 
finally  appeared.  He  was  so  exhausted  that  ho 
scarcely  touched  the  food  that  iiad  been  kept  for 
him.  As  he  ate,  he  confirmed  what  Maria  had 
already  heard  from  the  musician,  and  was  gentle 
and  kinil  in  his  manner,  but  she  was  pained  by  his 
appearance,  for  it  reminded  her  of  Barbara's  allusion 
to  the  heavy  burden  he  had  taken  upon  himself. 
She  noticed  to-day,  for  the  first  time,  two  deep  lines 
that  trouble  had  graven  from  eyes  to  mouth,  and 
seized  with  compassion,  she  stepped  behind  him,  laid 
a  hand  on  each  cheek,  and  kissed  him  on  the  fore- 
head, lie  trembled  slightly,  and,  seizing  her  right 
hand  so  passionately  that  she  started  back,  raised  it 
first  to  his  lips  and  then  to  his  ej'es  and  kept  it  there 
for  several  moments. 

At  last  he  rose,  and  bidtling  her  an  affectionate 
good-night,  went  into  the  bedroom  and  lay  down  to 
rest.  When  she  herself  sought  her  bed  he  was 
breathing  heavily.  Extreme  fatigue  had  soon  over- 
come him.  Little  sleep  came  to  either  that  night, 
and,  whenever  she  awoke,  she  heard  him  sighing 
and  moaning.  8 he  lav  motionless  so  as  not  to  dis- 
turb  his  much-needed  rest,  and  twice  she  held  her 
breath,  for  he  was  talking  to  himself.  First  ho 
moaned  softly :  "  Hard,  too  hard,"  and  then,  "  If  I 
can  only  bear  it !" 

Wlien  she  awoke  the  next  morning,  he  had  already 
gone  to  the  Kathhaus.  He  returned  at  noon  and 
told  her  that  the  Spaniards  had  taken  the  Hague 
and  had  been  welcomed  with  acclamations  by  the 
pitiful  adherents  of  the  king.  The  burghers  that 
were  faithful  to  the  cause  and  the  "  Be'jri'ars  "  had 
fortunately   had  time  to  escape  to  Delft,  for  thq 


THE  BURGOMASTHJB'S  WIFE.  207 

valiant  Nikolas  Ruicbhaver  had  held  the  enemy  in 
check  for  a  time  at  the  Geestburg.  The  west  was 
still  open  and  the  newly  foi-tihed  stronghold  of 
Valkenburg,  garrisoned  by  the  English,  was  not  easy 
to  storm.  To  tbe  east,  at  Alfen,  still  other  British 
allies  lay  in  tbe  Spaniards'  rear. 

Tbe  bnrgomaster  told  all  this  nnasked,  but  not  as 
freely  and  naturally  as  in  talking  witb  men.  As  be 
spoke,  he  often  glanced  down  at  his  ])late  and  stop- 
ped hesitatingly.  It  seemed  as  tbough  he  were 
obliged  to  place  a  certain  constraint  upon  himself, 
in  order  to  speak  before  tbe  women,  servants  and 
children  of  matters  tbat  he  was  accustomed  to  dis- 
cuss only  with  men.  Maria  listened  attentively  but 
she  kept  discreetly  silent,  encouraging  him  only 
by  affectionate  glances  and  exclamations  of  sym- 
pathy, while  Barbara  boldly  asked  question  after 
question. 

The  meal  was  drawing  to  an  end,  when  the  Jon- 
ker  van  Warmond  entered  the  room  unannounced 
and  begged  the  burgomaster  to  accompany  him  at 
once,  for  Colonel  Chester  was  at  the  White  Gate 
with  part  of  bis  troops  and  was  asking  admittance 
into  tbe  city. 

At  this  news,  Peter  dashed  his  beer  mug  angrily 
upon  tbe  table,  started  up,  and  left  the  room  in 
advance  of  the  nobleman. 

Late  in  the  afternoon,  tbe  Van  der  Werff  house 
began  to  fill  The  gossi])s  came  to  talk  over  with 
Frau  Barbara  what  was  passing  at  the  White  Gate. 
The  wife  of  Burgomaster  van  Swieten  had  learned 
from  her  husband  himself  that  the  English  without 
offering  any  resistance  had  abandoned  the  fine,  new 
fort  of  Valkenburg-  and  bad  taken  to  their  heels  at 
the  mere  sight  of  the  Spaniards.  Tlie  enemy  had 
advanced  from  Haarlem  across  tlie  dunes,  by  Nord- 
wyk,  and  it  would  have  been  an  easy  matter  for  the 
Britons  to  hold  so  strong  a  position. 


208  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"  Fine  aid  such  allies  give  !"  cried  Barbara  hotl^^ 
"Queen  Elizabeth  has  kept  the  men  for  herself  and 
has  sent  us  the  women." 

"^nd  yet  they  are  true  sons  of  Anak  and  bear 
themselves  like  smart  soldiers,"  said  the  wife  of 
Alderman  Heemskerk.  ''  High  boots,  doublets  of 
fine  leather,  gay  plumes  in  their  helmets  and  hats, 
heavy  coats  of  mail,  halberds  that  would  kill  half  a 
dozen — and  all  like  new." 

"  They  probably  did  not  want  to  spoil  them  and 
that  is  why  they  sought  a  place  of  safety  so  quickl}^ 
the  cowardly  braggarts,"  cried  the  wife  of  Church- 
warden de  Haes,  who  was  renowned  for  her  sharp 
tongue.  "  You  seem  to  have  inspected  them  closely, 
Frau  Margret." 

"  From  the  wind-mill  at  the  gate,"  answered  the 
other.  "  The  officer  with  the  flag  of  truce  stopped 
on  the  brido;e  rioht  below  us — a  handsome  man  on 
a  fine  horse.  His  trumpeter  was  also  mounted  and 
the  large  square  of  velvet  on  his  trumpet  was  stiff 
with  fine  embroidery  in  gold  and  pearls.  They 
pleaded  well,  but  the  gate  remained  closed," 

"  Kight,  right !"  cried  Frau  Heemskerk.  "  1  don't 
like  the  prince's  commissioner,  Yan  Bronkhorst. 
What  does  he  care  about  us  as  long  as  the  queen 
keeps  in  a  good  humor  and  continues  the  subsidies  ? 
He  wishes  to  conciliate  Chester  and  grant  him  ad- 
mission, so  I  have  heard." 

"  So  he  may,"  added  Frau  van  Hout,  "  but  your 
husband,  Frau  Maria,  and  mine — I  spoke  with  him 
on  the  way  here — are  doing  all  in  their  j3ower  to 
prevent  it.  The  two  Seigneurs  van  der  Does  side 
with  them,  and  so  the  commissioner  may  be  over- 
ruled." 

"  God  grant  he  may  be,"  cried  the  harsh  voice  of 
Wilhelm's  mother.  "  To-morrow  or  next  day,  not 
a  cat  will  be  able  to  pass  the  gates,  and  my  husband 


THE  BTTRGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  209 

says  that  we  must  begin  to  be  sparing  of  the 
provisions.^' 

"Five  hundred  more  mouths  in  the  city  to  lessen 
our  children's  portions!  That  w^ould  be  a  tine 
thing !"  cried  Frau  de  Haes,  throwing  herself  back 
in  her  chair  so  that  it  creaked,  and  beating  her 
knees  with  her  hands. 

"  And  they  are  Englishmen,  my  dear,  English- 
men," Frau  Cornelius  interrupted  Frau  Margret. 
"  They  don't  eat,  they  devour.  We  can  provide  for 
our  own  men,  but  Herr  von  Nordwyk — the  younger, 
I  mean,  who  was  sent  by  the  prince  as  emissary  to 
the  queen — told  my  Wilhelm  what  a  British  glut- 
ton can  do.  They  eat  up  your  beef  like  cheese,  and 
our  beer  is  dish-water  in  comparison  with  their 
black  brew." 

"  One  could  put  up  with  that,"  answered  Barbara, 
'-  if  they  were  brave  fighters.  A  hundred  head  of 
cattle  more  or  less  cannot  hurt  us,  and  a  glutton 
turns  temperate  when  he's  put  on  short  rations. 
But  I  wouldn't  kill  one  of  Adrian's  gray  rabbits  for 
these  renegades." 

"It  would  be  a  pity,"  said  Frau  de  Haes.  "  I  am 
going  home  now  and  when  I  see  my  husband  he 
shall  hear  what  sensible  people  think  of  these 
Englishmen." 

'•  Gently,  friend,  gently,"  said  Burgomaster  van 
Swieten's  wife,  who  had  until  now  been  playing 
silently  with  the  cat.  "  Believe  me,  it  will  not 
matter  in  the  end  whether  we  let  in  the  allies  or 
not,  for  before  the  gooseberries  in  our  gardens  are 
ripe,  all  resistance  will  be  over." 

At  these  words,  Maria,  who  was  passing,  cakes 
and  mulled  wine,  placed  the  tray  upon  the  table  and 
asked : 

"  Is  that  your  wish,  Frau  Magtelt?" 

"  It  is  my  wish,"  she  answered  steadily,  "  and  the 


jJlO  TUE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

wish  of  many  sensible  people  also.  Resistance  is 
impossible  against  superior  numbers  and  the  sooner 
we  appeal  to  the  king's  clemency,  the  more  surely 
it  will  be  granted." 

The  other  women  listened  speechlessly  to  Frau 
van  Swieten,  but  Maria  went  closer  to  her  and  said 
indignantly : 

"  Any  one  who  says  that  had  better  go  at  once  to 
the  Spaniards  ;  any  one  who  says  that  wishes  dis- 
grace to  the  city  and  to  the  country  ;  any  one  wh\-» 
says  that " 

Frau  Magtelt  interrupted  Maria  with  a  forced 
laugh  and  cried  : 

"  Are  you  trying  to  instruct  experienced  women, 
Madam  Precocity  i  Is  it  usual  to  attack  a  visitor 
in  such  a  way  ?" 

"  Usual  or  not,"  answered  the  other,  "  I  will  never 
allow  such  words  in  my  house,  and  if  they  came 
from  the  lips  of  ray  own  sister,  I  would  say  :  '  You 
are  no  longer  a  friend  of  mine — go  !'" 

Maria's  voice  trembled  and  she  pointed  toward 
the  door  with  outstretched  arm. 

Frau  Magtelt  struggled  for  composure,  but  as 
she  left  the  room,  she  could  find  no  other  words 
than  :     "  Never  fear — never  fear — you  shall  never 


see  mo  again." 


Barbara  followed  the  outraged  woman  and  while 
the  others  sat  looking  down  at  the  floor  in  embar- 
rassment, "WTihelm's  mother  cried  : 

"  Well  done,  little  woman,  well  done !" 

Kindly  Frau  van  Ilout  put  her  arm  about  Maria, 
kissed  her  on  the  forehead,  and  whispered : 

"  Turn  away  from  the  others  and  dry  your  eyes." 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  211 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

We  are  told  of  a  condemned  man  who  was  thrown 
by  his  cruel  jailers  into  a  cage  of  ingenious  construc- 
tion. Day  by  day  the  walls  of  this  cage  grew 
narrower  and  narrower,  day  by  day  they  pressed 
more  closely  upon  the  miserable  man,  until  the 
dungeon  became  his  tomb.  Thus,  from  hour  to 
hour,  the  iron  barriers  of  the  Spanish  regiments 
drew  nearer  and  nearer  together  around  Leyden, 
and  if  they  succeeded  in  overcoming  the  resistance 
of  their  victim,  the  latter  was  threatened  with  an 
even  more  cruel  and  pitiless  end  than  that  of  the 
unfortunate  prisoner.  The  circle  that  Yaldez,  King 
Philip's  commander,  and  his  able  lieutenant,  Don 
Ayala,  had  drawn  about  the  city  in  scarce  two 
days,  was  almost  complete,  the  carefully  strength- 
ened fortifications  of  Yalkenburg  were  in  the  hands 
of  the  enemy  and  consequently  the  danger  was 
drawing  on  more  rapidly  and  with  far  more  irresist- 
ible force  than  even  the  most  timid  among  the 
inhabitants  had  feared.  If  Leyden  fell,  its  houses 
would  be  given  over  to  fire  and  pillage,  its  men  to 
death,  its  women  to  shame.  The  fate  of  other 
conquered  cities  and  the  Spanish  nature  gave  ample 
assurance  of  this. 

Who  could  help  picturing  the  guardian  angel  of 
the  busy  city  other  than  with  gioom}'^  brow  and 
anxious  eyes  ?  and  yet  at  the  White  Gate  at  noon 
this  day,  there  was  as  gay  and  brilliant  a  scene  as 
though  a  spring  festival  were  being  concluded  with 


212  TUE  nUROOMASTRR'S  WIFE. 

a  glittering  spectacle.  Every  available  place  on 
the  walls  as  far  as  the  Kaliiarinen  Tower  was 
occupied  by  men,  women,  and  children.  The  old 
wall  looked  like  a  crowded  row  in  an  amphitheater, 
and  far  into  the  city  could  be  heard  the  bum  of  the 
curious  throng. 

It  is  kind  of  fate  to  enable  men  to  enjoy  a  brief 
moment  of  sunshine  in  the  midst  of  a  terrible  storm, 
and  thus  the  journej'men  and  apprentices,  the 
women  and  children  on  the  walls,  forgot  the  im- 
pending danger  and  feasted  their  e^^es  on  the 
gorgeously  clad  English  warriors  who  stared  up  at 
them  and  laughed  and  nodded  boldly  at  the  3'oung 
girls,  though  some  awaited  with  grave  faces  the 
result  of  the  negotiations  that  were  being  held 
within  the  walls. 

At  last  the  portals  of  the  White  Gate  were 
thrown  open.  Commissioner  van  Bronkhorst, 
Van  der  Werff,  Van  Hout,  and  other  leaders  of  the 
community  escorted  the  British  colonel  and  his 
trumpeter  to  the  bridge.  The  colonel  seemed  tilled 
with  passionate  indignation,  and  more  than  once 
struck  his  hand  upon  the  bill  of  his  sword  ;  the 
Leyden  authorities  were  expostulating  with  him  and 
finally  took  leave  of  him  wath  profound  salutations, 
which  he  answered  only  with  a  haughty  wave  of  the 
hand.  Then  the  burghers  returned,  the  gates 
clashed  together,  the  old  lock  creaked,  the  iron- 
bound  crossbars  fell  into  their  places,  the  rattle  of 
the  drawbrido'e  chains  was  distinctlv  audible,  and 
then  the  assembled  multitude  knew  that  the 
Englishmen  had  been  refused  admittance  into  the 
city. 

Loud  cheers  intermingled  with  lively  expressions 
of  disapproval  were  heard.  "  Long  live  Orange  !" 
shouted  the  boys,  among  whom  were  Adrian  and 
the  son   of   the  dead    fencing-master;    the  women 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  21 


o 


waved  their  handkerchiefs,  and  all  eyes  were  turned 
upon  the  British.  A  loud  fanfare  sounded,  the 
mounted  officers  spurred  toward  the  colonel  and 
held  with  him  a  brief  and  stormy  council  of  war, 
and  shortly  after  there  came  the  sound  of  trumpet 
calls.  Tiiere  was  a  scurrying  among  the  soldiers 
and  many  of  them  shook  their  lists  at  the  city.  The 
stacked  muskets  and  halberds  were  seized  by  their 
owners,  and  amid  the  roll  of  drums  and  blare  of 
trumpets  order  was  gradually  evolved  out  of  the 
confusion.  Individuals  formed  into  files,  files  into 
companies,  the  gay  standards  were  unfurled,  and 
with  loud  huzzas  the  corps  marched  along  the  Rhine 
to  the  southwest,  where  lay  the  Spanish  outposts. 

The  Leyden  lads  joined  lustily  in  the  Englishmen's 
cheers. 

Even  Andreas,  Captain  AUertssohn's  son,  had  be- 
gun to  join  in  the  shouts  ;  but  when  he  saw  a  tall 
captain  marching  proudly  at  the  head  of  his  com- 
pany his  voice  failed  ami  with  his  hands  to  his  eyes 
he  ran  homeward  to  his  mother. 

The  other  lads  did  not  notice  him,  for  the  setting 
sun  was  so  dazzlingi^y  reflected  on  the  helmets  and 
coats  of  mail,  the  halberds  and  the  swoi-ds  of  the 
soldiers,  the  fanfares  echoed  so  inspiringly,  the 
officers'  steeds  pranced  so  spiritedl}'  under  tlieir 
riders,  the  bright  plumes  and  banners  and  the  smoke 
from  tlie  glowing  matches  took  on  such  brilliant 
coloring  in  the  rosy  glow  of  the  departing  sun,  that 
every  eye  hung  spellbound  on  the  spectacle.  Then 
a  new  occurrence  attracted  the  attention  of  old  and 
young. 

Six-and-thirty  Englishmen,  and  among  them 
several  officers,  remained  behind  the  rest  and  ap- 
proached the  gate.  Once  more  the  lock  creaked 
and  the  chains  rattled.  The  little  band  was  admitted 
into  the  city  and  made  welcome  by  Herr  van  Bronk- 
horst  and  the  burgomaster. 


2 1 4  THE  D  URO0MA8TER  'S  WIFE. 

Every  one  on  the  walls  had  supposed  that  a 
skirmish  would  take  place  between  the  retreatinf^ 
Britons  and  the  Spaniards.  But  how  mistaken  they 
had  been  !  For  before  the  vanguard  had  reached 
the  enemy  slow-matches  were  seen  flying  into  the 
air,  banners  lowered,  and  when  night  came  on  and 
the  curious  dispersed,  they  knew  tliat  the  English- 
men had  deserted  the  good  cause  and  gone  over  to 
the  Spaniards. 

The  six-and-thirty,  who  had  been  admitted  within 
the  gates,  were  the  only  ones  who  had  refused  to 
be  accessories  to  this  treason. 

The  task  of  providing  quarters  for  Captain  Crom- 
well and  the  other  Englishmen  and  Netherlanders 
who  had  remained  faithful,  was  allotted  to  Van 
Ilout.  Van  der  Werff  went  home  with  Plerr  van 
Bronkhorst.  Many  low  but  vehement  words  were 
exchanged  between  them.  T'he  commissioner  pro- 
tested that  the  prince  would  be  enraged  at  tiie 
refusal  to  admit  the  Englishmen,  for  he  rightly 
phiced  great  weight  upon  Queen  Elizabeth's  coun- 
tenance of  the  cause  of  freedom,  to  which  the 
burgomaster  and  his  friends  had  done  ill  service  that 
dav-  Van  der  Werff  denied  this,  for  everything 
depended  upon  holding  Leyden.  If  Leyden  fell 
Delft,  Gouda,  and  Rotterdam  were  also  lost,  and  all 
further  attempts  to  win  freedom  for  Holland  would 
be  fruitless.  Five  hundred  more  mouths  to  feed  would 
prematurely  exhaust  the  already  insufficient  su])- 
plies.  All  had  been  done  to  give  as  mild  a  form  as 
possible  to  the  refusal  to  admit  the  Englishmen  ; 
indeed,  they  had  been  given  leave  to  encam]>  under 
the  cannon  of  the  city,  in  the  shelter  of  the  walls. 

When  the  two  men  separated,  neither  had  per- 
suaded the  other,  but  each  was  convinced  of  his 
comrade's  sincerity. 

In  parting,  Peter  said : 


THK  B  UROOMA STER  'S  WIFE,  215 

"  The  clerk  of  the  council  shall  explain  the  rea- 
sons for  our  conduct  to  the  prince  in  a  clear  and 
convincing-  letter,  as  only  he  can  write,  and  his 
excellency  will  certainly  accept  them  in  the  end. 
You  may  depend  upon  it." 

"  We  "shall  see,"  answered  the  commissioner,  "  but 
remember  that  we  shall  soon  be  shut  up  within 
these  walls,  like  criminals  under  lock  and  key,  and 
that,  perhai)s,  even  by  day  after  to-morrow,  no 
messenger  can  find  a  way  to  him." 

"  The  clerk  of  the  council  is  rapid  with  his  pen." 

"And  early  to-morrow  morning  let  it  be  pro- 
claimed that  we  counsel  the  women,  old  men,  and 
children,  in  short,  all  who  diminish  the  supplies, 
and  are  useless  in  defending  the  city,  to  leave  the 
town.  They  can  reach  Delft  in  safety,  for  the  way 
thither  is  still  open." 

"Very  well,"  answered  Peter.  "Indeed,  many 
women  have  already  gone." 

"  It  is  well,"  cried  the  commissioner.  "We  are 
drifting  in  a  frail  bark  on  the  high  sea.  Had  1  a 
daughter,  I  know  well  what  I  should  do.  Avf 
wiedersehen,  meister.  How  can  things  be  at  Alfen  ? 
There  is  no  longer  sound  of  firing.'' 

"  The  darkness  has  doubtless  interrupted  the 
battle." 

"  Then  let  us  hope  for  the  best  to-morrow  ;  and 
even  if  all  without  lay  down  their  arms,  we  here 
shall  neither  waver  nor  yield." 

"  We  will  stand  fast  to  the  end,"  answered  Peter 
resolutely. 

"To  the  end,  and  if  God  wills,  a  happy  end." 

"  Amen !"  cried  Peter,  pressing  the  commissioner's 
hand,  and  continued  on  his  homeward  wav. 

He  was  met  on  the  stairs  by  Barbara.  She  was 
about  to  call  Maria,  who  was  with  the  frauloin,but 
he  stopped  her  and  began  to  walk  thoughtfully  up 


210  TllIC  BUROOMASTElt'S  WIFE. 

and  down  the  room.  More  than  once  his  lips  were 
dniwn  as  tiiough  he  were  suffering  great  pain. 
AVhen,  after  a  time,  he  heard  his  wife's  voice  in  the 
dining-room,  lie  pulled  himself  together  with  an 
effort,  went  to  the  door,  and  opened  it  slowly. 

"Home  already!"  she  cried  in  surprise;  "and 
here  I  am  sitting  quietly  spinning." 

"  Yes,  child.  Come  to  my  study  ;  I  want  to  speak 
with  you." 

"  What  is  the  matter,  Peter  ?  How  strange  your 
voice  sounds,  and  how  pale  you  are  !" 

"  I  am  not  ill,  but  matters  are  growing  serious, 
very  serious." 

"  Then  it  is  true,  the  enemy " 

"  They  gained  great  advantage  yesterday  and 
again  to-day  ;  but  1  beg  you,  if  you  love  me,  do  not 
interrupt  me  now,  for  what  I  have  to  say  is  not 
easily  said.  How  shall  I  begin  ?  How  shall  I  put 
it,  so  that  you  will  understand  me  aright?  You 
know,  child,  tiiat  I  took  you  into  my  house  from  a 
warm  nest.  What  I  could  offer  you  was  little,  and 
you  had  doubtless  expected  to  find  more.  I  know 
you  are  not  happy." 

"But.it  would  be  very  easy  for  you  to  make  me 
happy." 

"You  are  mistaken,  Maria.  In  these  troubled 
times,  one  thing  alone  occupies  me,  and  anything 
that  diverts  my  thoughts  from  that  is  injurious. 
But  just  now  one  thing  is  weakening  my  courage 
and  resolution  ;  it  is  anxietj'^  for  your  fate  ;  for  who 
knows  what  ma}'  be  threatening,  and  therefore  I 
must  saci'ifice  my  feelings  and  express  a  wish — a 
wish  ?  Oh,  merciful  Heaven  !  Is  there  no  other 
word  for  what  I  mean  ?" 

"  Speak,  Peter,  speak,  and  do  not  torture  me !" 
cried  Maria,  looking  with  t<'rrified  gaze  into  her 
husband's  face.     It  could  be  no  light  matter  that  led 


TEE  BUiiOOMASTEB'S  WIFE.  211 

the  clear-headed  and  resolute  man  to  use  such  con- 
fused language. 

The  bui'gomaster  controlled  himself  with  an 
effort  and  began  anew  : 

"  You  are  right ;  it  is  useless  to  keep  back  wliat 
must  be  said.  We  have  decided  at  the  Hathhaus 
to-day  to  request  the  women  to  leave  the  city.  The 
road  to  Delt't  is  still  open  ;  day  after  to-morrow  it 
may  not  be,  and  later— what  may  happen  hitei',  wIkj 
can  foretell?  If  no  relief  comes  and  the  provisions 
give  out,  there  will  be  nothing  to  do  but  open  tiie 
gates  to  the  enemy,  and  then,  Maria,  think  of  what 
Avill  happen.  The  Rhine  and  the  canals  will  be 
dyed  crimson,  for  much  blood  will  flow  into  them, 
and  they  will  serve  to  reflect  a  conflagration  such 
as  has  never  been  seen  before.  Woe  to  the  men, 
but  a  thousand  times  more  to  the  women,  against 
whom  the  fury  of  the  conquerors  will  be  directed. 
And  you — you — the  wife  of  the  man  who  has  in- 
cited thousands  to  insurrection  against  King  Philip, 
the  wife  of  the  exile  who  leads  the  resistance 
within  these  walls " 

Maria's  eyes  had  o])ened  wide  at  the  last  words, 
and  she  now  interru])ted  her  husband  with  the 
question  :     "  Are  you  trying  to  test  my  courage  V 

"  No,  Maria ;  I  know  that  you  would  endure 
faithfully,  and  would  look  death  in  the  face  as  un- 
dauntedly as  your  sister  did  ;  but  I  cannot  bear  the 
thought  of  seeing  you  fall  into  the  hands  of  our 
butchers.  Anxiety  for  you  will  undermine  my 
strength  at  the  decisive  moment,  and  so — — " 

Maria  had  listened  thus  far  in  silence  ;  she  knew 
what  he  required  of  her.  Kow  she  came  nearer  to 
him  and  cut  him  short  in  a  firm,  almost  authorita- 
tive voice. 

"  No  more,  no  more,  I  tell  you.  I  will  not  bear 
another  word," 


2 1 8  TUE  B  URGOMA  STER  'S  WIFE. 

"  ]\raria !" 

"  Silence  !     It  is  my  turn  now.    To  escape  anxiety 

you   mean    to   drive  your    wife   from   the    house ; 

anxiet\%  you  say,  would   undermine  your  strength. 

vBut  would  longing  strengthen  it?    If  you  love  me  it 

would  not  be  wanting " 

"  If  I  love  you,  Maria  !" 

"  I  know,  i  know.  But  you  have  forgotten  to 
consider  how  this  exile  would  affect  me,  if  I  love 
you  in  equal  measure.  I  am  your  wife.  We  vowed 
at  the  altar  that  nothing  should  separate  us  but 
death.  Have  you  forgotten  ?  Have  your  children 
become  mine?  Have  I  taught  them  to  call  me 
mother  gladly — 3^es  or  no?" 

"  Yes,  Maria  ;  yes,  yes." 

"  And  you  have  the  heart  to  abandon  me  to  this 
cruel  longing  ?  You  wish  to  keep  me  from  fullilling 
the  most  sacred  of  all  vows?  You  can  bring  your- 
self to  tear  me  from  the  children  ?  You  thfnk  me 
too  shallow  and  too  weak  to  suffer  want  and  death 
for  the  sacred  cause,  which  is  mine  as  well  as  yours ! 
You  are  fond  of  calling  me  child;  but  I  can  be 
strong,  too.  You  are  the  husband  and  can  command  ; 
I  am  only  the  wife  and  shall  obey.  Shalllo-o? 
Shall  I  stay?     I  await  j-^our  answer." 

Her  voice  was  trembling  as  she  said  this,  and  he 
cried  in  deep  emotion  : 

"  Stay,  Maria,  stay  !  Come,  come,  and  forerive 
me !"  ^ 

Seizing  her  hand,  he  cried  again': 

"Come,  come!" 

But  she  released  herself,  moved  away  from  him, 
and  said  imploringl}'^: 

"  Let  me  go,  Peter,  I  cannot ;  I  need  time  to  re- 
cover from  this." 

He  let  his  arms  fall,  and  looked  sadly  into  her 
face,  but  she  turned  away  and  left  the  room  in 
silence. 


THE  B  UROOMA STER  'S  WIFE.  219 

He  did  not  follow  her,  but  went  quietly  to  his 
study,  and  strove  to  fix  his  attention  upon  his  work, 
but  his  thouglits  turned  constantl}'  to  Maria.  His 
love  oppressed  him  as  if  it  were  a  crime,  and  he 
seemed  to  liimself  like  a  messenger  who  stops  to 
pluck  the  Howers  by  ihe  wayside,  and  in  doing  so 
wastes  precious  moments  and  forgets  the  mission 
upon  which  he  is  sent.  His  heart  was  unspeakably 
sad  and  heavy,  and  it  was  almost  a  relief  to  him 
vvlien  sliortly  before  midnight  the  bell  in  the  tower 
of  Pancratius  raised  its  warning  voice.  In  danger, 
he  knew  he  would  feel  and  think  of  nothing  but 
what  duty  demantled  of  him,  and  so  "with  renewed 
strength  he  took  his  hat  from  the  peg  and  left  the 
house  with  a  firm  ste]). 

In  the  street  he  met  tlie  Jonker  van  Duivenvoorde, 
who  had  come  to  summon  him  to  the  Hohenort 
Gate,  before  which  a  body  of  the  Englishmen  had 
again  made  their  appearance — a  handful  of  brave 
men  who  had  held  Alfen  and  the  Gouda  Lock  in  a 
hot  and  bloody  struggle  until  their  powder  was  ex- 
hausted and  they  were  conijielled  to  surrender  or 
seek  safety  in  flight.  The  burgomaster  followed 
the  jonker  and  ordered  the  gate  to  be  opened  for 
the  brave  soldiers.  They  were  some  twenty  in 
number  and  among  them  the  ISTetherland  Captain 
van  der  Laen  and  a  young  German  officer.  Peter 
gave  instructions  that  tliey  should  have  shelter  for 
the  night  in  the  Rathhaus  and  the  guardhouse  at  the 
gate,  and  on  the  following  morning  suitable  quarters 
would  be  found  for  them  in  the  houses  of  the  burgh- 
ers, Janus  Dousa  asked  the  captain  to  accejit  his  hos- 
pitality and  the  German  betook  himself  to  Aquanus' 
inn.  All  were  ordered  to  report  to  the  burgomaster 
at  noon  the  next  dav  that  they  micrht  be  assifined 
their  quarters  and  enrolled  in  the  volunteer  regi- 
ments, 


220  TUE  BUROOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

The  ladies  of  the  Yan  der  "Werff  household  were 
also  roused  by  the  alarm  bell.  Barbara  souf^ht 
Maria,  and  not  until  they  had  been  informed  of  the 
cause  of  the  rinoing  and  had  reassured  Ilenrika.  (h'd 
they  return  to  their  rooms. 

The  burgomaster's  wife  could  not  sleep.  Her 
husband's  intention  of  separating  himself  from  her 
in  the  face  of  threatening  danger  had  roused  her 
whole  nature  and  woundetl  her  to  the  quick.  She 
felt  herself  liumiliated  and  although  not  ignored,  yet 
unappreciated  by  him  for  whose  sake  she  rejoiced 
in  every  noble  impulse  and  lofty  aspiration  that 
filled  her  soul.  Of  what  avail  was  beauty  of  form 
and  face  to  the  wife  of  a  blind  man  ?  of  what  avail 
was  tiie  rich  treasure  hidden  in  her  breast,  if  he 
would  not  see  it  and  make  use  of  it?  "  Show  him, 
tell  him  of  what  you  are  capable,"  urged  love ;  but 
womanly  pride  interposed  with:  "  I)o  not  force 
upon  him  what  he  scorns  to  seek." 

So  the  hours  passed  and  brought  her  neither  sleep 
nor  peace,  nor  the  will  to  forget  the  humiliation 
inflicted  upon  her. 

At  last  Peter  came  into  the  bedroom,  carefully 
and  softly,  so  as  not  to  waken  her.  She  pretended 
to  be  asleep,  but  she  could  see  him  through  her  half- 
closed  lids.  The  candlelight  fell  upon  his  face  and 
the  lines  that  she  had  noticed  before  lay  like  deep 
shadows  between  eyes  and  mouth.  They  stamped 
on  his  features  the  mark  of  heavj^care  and  reminded 
JVIaria  of  the  "  too  hard  "  and  "  if  I  can  only  bear  it  " 
that  he  had  muttered  in  his  sleep  the  "^preceding 
night.  Then  he  approached  her  bed  and  remained 
standing  there  a  long  time  :  she  did  not  see  him,  for 
she  kept  her  eyes  tightly  closed,  but  the  first  loving 
ghmce  with  which  he  had  looked  down  at  her  had 
not  escaped  her.  It  remained  before  her  eyes,  and 
she  seemed  to  feel  that  he  was  looking  at  her 
tenderly  and  praying  for  her  as  for  a  child. 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  221 

Sleep  had  lon^  since  overcome  her  husband,  but 
she  was  still  lying,  wakeful  as  in  broad  daylight, 
watching  the  coming  dawn.  For  the  sake  of  his 
love  she  must  forgive  him  much,  but  the  humiliation 
she  had  suffered  she  could  not  forget.  "  A  play- 
thing," she  said  to  herself,  "  a  work  of  art  in  which 
WQ  take  delight,  w^e  always  wish  to  place  in  safety 
as  soon  as  danger  threatens ;  the  ax  and  bread,  the 
sword,  and  the  talisman  that  protects  us,  in  short, 
what  we  cannot  do  without,  we  do  not  give  up  until 
the  end.  Necessary,  indispensable  to  him,  I  am  not. 
Had  I  done  as  he  wished  and  left  him,  then — yes, 
then " 

Here  the  current  of  her  thoughts  was  interrupted, 
for  the  first  time  the  question  arose  in  her  mind  : 
"  Would  he  really  have  missed  your  helping  hand, 
your  encouraging  word  V 

She  turned  uneasily  and  her  heart  beat  anxiously 
as  she  said  to  herself  that  she  had  done  little  to 
smooth  his  stony  path.  The  vague  suspicion  that  it 
was  not  altogether  his  fault  if  she  had  not  found 
perfect  hajipiness  at  his  side,  rose  disturbingly  in  her 
mind.  Did  not  her  former  conduct  justify  him  in 
expecting  from  her  hindrance  rather  than  comfort 
and  help  in  the  coming  days  of  peril  ? 

Filled  with  an  intense  longing  to  gain  a  clear  in- 
sight into  her  own  heart  she  propped  herself  up  in 
bed  and  let  her  past  life  pass  in  review  before  her. 

Her  mother  had  been  a  Catholic  in  her  youth  and 
had  often  told  her  how  free  and  light-hearted  she 
had  felt  when  she  had  confessed  everything  that  can 
trouble  a  woman's  heart  and  had  received  from  the 
servant  of  God  the  assurance  that  she  could  begin 
life  anew,  certain  of  forgiveness.  "  It  is  much, harder 
for  us  now,"  her  mother  had  said  to  her  before  her 
first  communion,  "  for  we  of  the  Reformed  faith  are 
answerable  to  ourselves  and  to  God,  and  we  must 


222  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

be  wlioUy  at  peace  with  Ilim  and  ourselves  before 
we  can  come  to  the  Lord's  table.  That  is  indeed 
enough,  for  if  we  confess  openly  and  unreservedly 
to  the  judge  within  us  whatever  weighs  upon  our 
c($nsciences,  be  it  in  thougiit  or  deed,  and  honestly 
repent  of  it,  we  may  be  sui-e  of  forgiveness  for  the 
sake  of  the  blood  shed  for  us  by  the  Saviour." 

To  such  silent  confession  Maria  now  subjected 
herself  and  sternly  and  pitilessly  reviewed  her  con- 
duct. Yes,  she  had  thought  too  much  of  herself,  had 
demanded  too  much  and  given  too  little.  She 
recognized  her  fault  and  resolved  to  make  amends. 

Her  heart  was  lighter  after  this  self-examination, 
and  when  at  last  she  turned  away  from  the  dawn- 
ing light  to  seek  sleep,  she  looked  forward  joyfully 
to  the  loving  greeting  that  she  would  give  Peter  in 
the  morning  ;  but  she  soon  fell  asleep  and  when  she 
awoke,  he  had  long  since  left  the  house. 

As  usual,  before  beginning  any  other  work,  she 
set  Peter's  study  to  rights,  and  as  she  did  so  she 
cast  a  friendly  glance  at  the  picture  of  his  first  wife. 
On  the  desk  lay  the  Bible,  the  only  book  not  con- 
nected with  his  business  affairs  that  her  husband 
was  in  the  habit  of  reading.  Barbara  also  derived 
comfort  from  it  at  times,  but  she  used  it  as  an  oracle 
likewise,  for  whenever  some  disputed  question  arose 
she  would  open  the  book  and  point  to  some  passage. 
This  usually  had  a  definite  meaning  and  whatever  it 
counseled  she  was  in  tiie  habit  usually,  although 
not  always,  of  doing.  That  very  day  she  had  dis- 
regarded its  advice,  for  in  answer  to  her  question 
wlujther  she  might  venture  to  send  a  box  of  good 
things  to  her  son,  one  of  the  "Beggars  of  the  Sea," 
in  spite  of  the  Spaniards  who  surrounded  the  city, 
she  had  received  in  reply  the  words  of  Jeremiah  : 
"Their  tents  and  their  flocks  shall  they  take  away  : 
they  shall  take  to  themselves  their  curtains,  and  all 


TI7E  BURGOMASTER  S  WIFE.  223 

their  vessels  and  their  camels."  The  box,  notwith- 
standing, had  been  contided  early  that  morning  to  a 
widow,  who  with  lier  daughters  intended  to  seek 
refuge  in  Delft.  The  gift  might  reach  Rotterdam 
after  all ;  a  mother  always  expects  miracles  to  be 
performed  for  her  child. 

Before  Maria  restored  the  Bible  to  its  place  she 
turned  to  the  thirteenth  cha])ter  of  the  first  Epistle 
of  St.  Paul  to  the  Corinthians,  which  speaks  of  love 
and  was  especially  dear  to  her.  "  Love  suffereth 
long,  and  is  kind  ;  love  envieth  not,"  and  then, 
"  Love  beareth  all  things,  believeth  all  things, 
hopeth  all  things,  endureth  all  things." 

To  be  long-suffering  and  kind,  to  hope  all  things 
and  endure  all  things,  this  was  the  duty  that  love 
imposed  upon  her. 

When  she  had  closed  the  Bible  and  was  preparing 
to  go  to  Henrika,  Barbara  ushered  Janus  Dousa  into 
the  room.  The  young  noble  wore  his  armor  and 
gorget  and  looked  much  more  like  a  soldier  than 
a  scholar  or  a  poet.  Pie  had  sought  Peter  in  vain 
at  the  Rathhaus  and  had  hoped  to  find  him  at  home. 
One  of  the  messengers  sent  to  the  prince  had  re- 
turned from  Dortrecht  with  a  letter  which  a))pointed 
Dousa  to  the  post  of  commanding  officer  left  vacant 
by  AUertssohn's  death.  He  was  to  command  not  only 
the  city  troops  but  the  entire  armed  force.  He  had 
"accepted  the  ;ippointment  with  cheerful  alacrity  aijd 
asked  Maria  to  inform  her  husband  of  it. 

"  Accept  my  congratulation,"  said  the  burgomas- 
ter's wife ;  "  but  what  will  now  become  of  your 
motto :  '  Ante  07nma  Musm  V  " 

"  I  shall  change  the  words  a  little  and  say  :  '  Om- 
nia ante  Musas^  " 

"Do  you  understand  that  gibberish,  child?"  asked 
Barbara. 

"  It  means  that  the  Muses  are  to  be  given  their 
passports,  for  the  present,"  answered  Maria  gayly^ 


224  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

Janus  was  pleased  by  the  ready  retort  and  ex- 
claimed :  "  Ilow  happy  and  cheerful  you  look  !  In 
these  dark  times  untroubled  faces  are  scarce." 
^  Maria  flushed,  for  she  did  not  know  how  to  inter- 
pret the  words  of  the  nobleman  who  knew  how  to 
convey  reproach  with  delicate  sarcasm,  and  she 
answered  frankly:  "Do  not  think  me  frivolous, 
jonker.  I  know  the  gravity  of  the  times,  but  I  have 
just  finished  a  silent  confession  and  have  found 
much  that  was  bad  in  me,  but  also  the  determination 
to  replace  it  with  something  better." 

"  1  knew  long  ago,"  answered  Janus,  "  that  while 
in  Delft  you  were  on  friendlv  terms  with  mv  old 
philosophers.  'Know  thyself  was  the  principal 
teaching  of  the  Greeks,  and  you  are  following  it 
wisely.  Every  silent  confession,  every  desire  for 
inward  purification,  must  begin  with  the  resolve  to 
know  ourselves,  and  if  in  doing  so  we  stumble 
against  many  things  that  do  not  redound  to  the 
credit  of  our  beloved  selves  and  we  have  the  courage 
to  find  them  as  hideous  in  ourselves  as  in 
others " 

"  Disgust  follows  naturally  and  we  have  taken 
the  first  step  toward  improvement." 

"J^To,  my  dear  ladv,  we  are  alreadv  standin"-  on 
one  of  the  topmost  rounds.  After  hours  of  deep 
thought,  do  you  know  what  Socrates  recognized  ?" 

"  That  he  knew  nothing.  I  have  come  to  that 
conclusion  much  more  rapidly." 

"  And  the  Christian  learns  that  at  school,"  said 
Barbara,  wishing  to  share  in  the  conversation.  "  A 11 
knowledge  is  imperfect." 

"And  we  are  all  sinners,"  added  Janus.  "That 
is  easy  to  say,  my  dear  mathim,  and  is  easy 
to  understand  where  others  are  concerned,  *■  He 
is  a  sinner'  is  quickly  said,  but '/am  a  sinner' 
is  harder  to  utter,  and  when  we  say  it  to  ourselves 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  225 

in  anguish,  in  the  quiet  of  our  rooms,  the  white 
feathers  of  angels'  wings  are  already  mingling  with 
the  black  pinions  of  the  devil.  Forgive  me  !  Every- 
thing that  one  says  and  does  nowadays  is  changed 
into  bitter  earnest.  Mars  is  here  and  the  cheerful 
Muses  are  silent.  Give  my  respects  to  your  husband 
and  tell  him  also  that  Captain  AUertssohn's  body  has 
been  brought  in  and  that  the  funeral  is  to  take  place 
to-morrow." 

The  jonker  took  his  leave  and  Maria,  after  visiting 
her  patient  and  Ending  lier  well  and  cheerful,  sent 
Adrian  and  Lieschen  into  the  garden  by  the  city 
wall  to  gather  flowers  and  leaves,  which  she  meant 
with  their  help  to  make  into  wreaths  for  the  brave 
soldier's  coffin.  She  herself  went  to  the  captain's 
widow. 


226  TUE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

Shortly  before  dinner,  the  burgomaster's  Avife 
returned  home  and  found  in  front  of  the  house  a 
crowd  of  bearded  soldiers.  They  were  striving  to 
make  themselves  intelligible  in  English  to  some  of 
the  constables,  and,  as  the  latter  saluted  Frau  Mai-ia 
respectfully,  they  also  raised  their  hands  to  their 
helmets. 

She  nodded  pleasantly  and  entered  the  hall  into 
which  the  full  light  of  noonday  streamed  through 
the  open  door, 

Peter  had  been  assigning  quarters  to  the  English 
soldiers  outside,  and,  after  consulting  with  the  wqw 
commandant,  Jan  van  der  Does,  had  a])pointed  their 
otficers.  They  were  doubtless  waiting  for  their 
comrades,  for,  as  the  young  woman  set  her  foot  ou 
the  first  step  of  tiie  stairs  and  glanced  upward,  she 
found  that  the  upper  end  of  the  narrow  flight  was 
blocked  by  the  tall  figure  of  a  soldier.  His  back 
was  turned  to  her  and  lie  was  showing  Lieschen  his 
dark  velvet  cap,  encircled  with  rectangular  points, 
above  which  curled  a  pale  blue  ostrich  feather.  The 
child  seemed  to  have  establislied  a  friendship  with 
the  soldier,  for  although  the  latter  was  denying  her 
something,  the  little  one  laughed  merrily. 

Maria  remained  standing  a  moment,  irresolute  ; 
but  when  the  child  seized  the  ga_y  head-covering 
and  set  it  on  her  own  curly  locks,  she  felt  that  she 
must  reprove  her,  and  called  up  chidingly:  "Why, 
Lieschen,  that  is  no  plaything  for  a  child"" 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  227 

The  soldier  turned,  paused  a  moment  in  astonish- 
ment, and  then  leaped  down  the  stairs  with  a  few 
rapid  bounds.  Maria  had  stepped  back  in  surprise  ; 
he  left  her  no  time  to  reflect,  however,  but  stretched 
out  both  hands  to  her,  and,  with  shining  eyes,  cried 
joyously  :  "  Maria,  Jungfrau  Maria  !  You  here  ? 
This  is  what  I  call  a  lucky  da}' !" 

Maria  had  recognized  the  soldier  at  once,  and 
placed  her  hand  in  his  readily,  though  not  without 
some  embarrassment. 

The  soldier's  clear  blue  eyes  sought  hers,  but  she 
cast  them  down  and  said  :  "I  am  not  what  I  was  ; 
the  voung  girl  has  become  the  mistress  of  a  house- 
hokf." 

"  The  mistress  of  a  household  !"  he  cried.  "  How 
dignified  that  sounds !  And  yet !  You  are  still 
Jungfrau  Maria.  You  have  not  changed  a  bit. 
That  is  just  the  way  you  bent  your  head  at  the 
wedding  at  Delft ;  the  very  way  you  raised  your 
hands  ;  the  way  you  cast  down  your  eyes ;  and  that 
is  the  selfsame  divine  blush." 

In  the  voice  that  spoke  these  words  with  glad, 
almost  childlike,  unconstraint,  there  was  an  unusual 
sweetness,  which  was  as  pleasing  to  Maria  as  the 
officer's  familiar  manner  was  annoying  to  her.  Slie 
raised  her  head  with  a  swift  movement,  looked 
steadily  into  the  young  man's  handsome  face,  and 
said  with  dignity  : 

"  You  see  only  the  exterior,  Jonker  von  Dorn- 
burg  ;  within,  many  things  have  changed  in  these 
three  years." 

"Jonker  von  Dornburg!"  he  repeated,  shaking 
his  curly  head.  '"In  Delft  I  was  Jonker  Georg. 
Things  have  gone  very  ditferently  with  us,  my  dear 
lady,  very  differently.  For  see,  my  mustache  has 
grown  somewhat,  although  none  too  thickly.  I 
have  grown  stouter,  and  the  sun  has  browned  my 


228  THE  B  U  ROOM  A  STER  'S  WIFE. 

pink  and  white  boyish  face;  in  short,  my  outer  man 
has  changed  for  the  worse,  but  the  inner  man  is  ex- 
actl}'  as  it  was  three  3'ears  ago." 

Maria  felt  the  blood  mounting  to  her  cheeks 
again,  but  she  did  not  wish  to  blush,  and  answered 
quickly : 

"  Standing  still  is  going  backward,  and  so  you 
have  lost  three  good  years,  Ilerr  von  Dornburg." 

The  officer  looked  at  Maria  in  surprise,  and  then 
said,  more  gravely  than  before  : 

"  Your  jest  has  more  truth  in  it  than  you 
suspect:  I  had  hoped  to  find  you  again  in  Delft, 
but  our  powder  ran  short  at  Alfen,  and  so  the 
Spaniards  will  doubtless  enter  your  native  city 
sooner  than  we  shall.  And  now  a  kind  fate  has 
led  me  to  you  here,  but  let  me  be  quite  frank. 
AVhat  I  had  hoped  for  and  wished  for,  rises  tangibly 
before  my  eyes.  When  I  thought  of  our  meeting, 
I  dreamed  that  you  would  place  both  your  hands 
in  mine  and  would  not  receive  me  coldly,  but  would 
ask  the  old  companion  of  happy  days,  Leonhard's 
best  friend  :  '  l)o  you  still  remember  our  dead  V 
and  when  1  had  answered  :  '  Yes,  yes,  yes,  I  have 
never  forgotten  them,'  then  1  thought  the  soft  light 
of  your  eyes — ■  Ah,  I  thank  you !  There  are  tears 
in  your  e3'es.  You  have  not  changed  as  much  as 
you  had  thought,  Frau  Maria,  and  if  I  hold  the 
past  in  faithful  remembrance,  will  you  reproach 
me  ?" 

"  I  will  not  indeed,"  she  answered  warmly. 
"And  now  that  you  speak  to  me  like  this,  I  shall 
be  glad  to  call  you  Jonker  Georg  again,  and  invite 
you  to  my  house  as  Leonhard's  friend  and  mine." 

"  Ah,  that  is  delightful !''  he  cried  fervently. 
"  I  have  so  much  to  ask  you,  and  as  concerns  my- 
self— I  wish  I  had  less  to  tell." 

"  Have  you  seen  my  husband  V  asked  Maria. 


TEE  BV  ROD  MASTER'S  WIFE.  229 

"I  know  no  one  in  Leyden,"  he  answered, 
"  except  my  learned  host  and  the  doge  of  this  little 
Venice,  so  rich  in  water  and  bridges." 

Georg  pointed  up  the  stairs.  Maria  reddened 
again  and  said  : 

"  Burgomaster  van  der  Werff  is  my  husband." 

The  nobleman  was  silent  for  a  moment.  Then 
he  said  quickly  : 

"  He  received  me  most  kindly.  And  the  pretty 
little  elf  up  there  ?" 

"  My  husband's  child  by  his  first  marriage,  but 
mine  also  now.  How  did  vou  happen  to  call  her 
elf  r 

"  Because  she  looks  as  though  she  had  been  born 
among  white  flowers,  in  the  moonlight,  and  because 
the  flush  of  the  morning,  before  which  elves  vanish, 
was  in  her  cheeks  when  I  caught  her." 

"  She  has  already  been  given  that  name,"  said 
Maria.     '*  Shall  I  take  you  to  my  husband  V 

"  Not  now,  Frau  Biirgemeisterin,  for  I  must  see 
to  the  men  outside  there,  but  to-morrow  if  you  will 
permit." 

"  I  shall  tell  ray  husband  who  you  are.  Auf  wie- 
dersehen,  Jonker  Georg." 

Maria  found  the  dishes  smoking  on  the  table. 
The  family  had  waited  for  her,  and,  heated  by  her 
rapid  noonday  walk,  excited  by  the  unexpected 
meeting  with  the  young  German,  she  opened  the 
door  of  the  study  and  called  to  her  husband  : 

"  Forgive  me !  1  was  detained.  It  is  very 
late." 

"  We  were  quite  willing  to  wait,"  he  answered 
pleasantly,  approaciiing  her.  Then  she  remembered 
all  her  good  resolutions,  and,  for  the  first  time  since 
her  marriage,  she  raised  her  husband's  hand  to  her 
lips.  He  drew  it  away,  smiling,  kissed  her  on  the 
forehead,  and  said : 


230  THE  BUROOM ASTER'S  WIFE. 

"  It  is  pleasant  to  have  you  still." 

"  Is  it  not  V  she  retorted,  shaking  her  finger 
gently  at  him. 

"  But  we  are  all  here  now,  and  dinner  is 
waiting." 

"  Come  then,"  she  answered  gayly.  "  Do  you 
know  whom  I  met  on  the  stairs  V 

"  English  soldiers." 

"  Yes,  but  among  them  Jonker  von  Dornburg." 

"  He  has  just  presented  himself  to  me.  A  fine, 
attractive  young  fellow,  a  German  from  the  Prot- 
estant countries." 

"He  was  Leonhard's  best  friend.  Don't  vou  re- 
member?  Surely  I  have  told  you  about  him.  He 
was  our  guest  at  Jacoba's  wedding." 

"  To  be  sure,  Jonker  Georg.  He  broke  that 
vicious  bay  for  the  prince's  equerry." 

"It  was  a  rash  performance,"  said  Maria,  draw- 
ing a  lono;  breath. 

"  The  bay  still  goes  well,"  answered  Peter. 
"Leonhard  believed  that  the  jonker  would  turn  the 
world  upside  down  with  his  gifts  and  accomplish- 
ments; I  remember  well,  and  now  the  poor  fellow 
is  forced  to  sit  idly  here  and  let  himself  be  fed  by 
us.  How  did  he  happen  to  join  the  English  and 
take  part  in  the  struggle  ?" 

"  I  do  not  know ;  he  onlv  told  me  that  he  had 
had  many  adventures." 

"  I  can  quite  believe  it.  He  is  staying  at  Aqua- 
nus'  inn,  but  perhaps  we  can  find  a  room  for  him  in 
the  winff  overlookino-  the  courtvard. 

"No,  Peter,"  she  cried  impetuously,  "  there  is  no 
room  in  readiness." 

"  We  can  see  about  that  later.  At  all  events  let 
us  invite  him  to  dinner  to-morrow  ;  he  may  have 
somethmg  to  tell  us.  He  asked  me  not  to  let  him 
remain  idle,  but  to  put  him  on  duty  at  once.     Jau 


TUE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  231 

van  der  Does  will  soon  find  the  right  place  for  hira, 
for  the  new  commandant  is  a  good  judge  of  men." 

Barbara  here  took  a  part  in  the  conversation, 
and,  although  it  was  a  week  day,  Peter  had  a  flask 
of  wine  brought  up  instead  of  the  beer,  and,  what 
had  not  happened  before  for  weeks,  he  remained  a 
full  quarter  of  an  hour  after  the  dishes  had  been 
removed,  sitting  at  the  table  with  the  family  and 
telling  them  of  the  Spaniards'  rapid  advance,  tlie 
fate  of  the  deserting  Englishmen,  who  had  been 
disarmed  and  sent  away  in  detachments,  the  des- 
perate resistance  the  body  of  English,  to  which  the 
Jonker  Georg  belonged,  had  made  at  Alfen,  and  of 
another  hot  engagement  in  which  Don  Gaytan,  the 
risrht  hand  and  the  best  officer  of  the  commander 
Yaldez,  was  said  to  have  fallen.  Messengers  were 
still  going  and  coming  on  the  Delft  road,  but  by  the 
next  day  it  would  doubtless  be  blocked  by  the 
enemy.  As  he  talked,  he  turned  constantly  toward 
Maria  except  when  Barbara  questioned  him  directly, 
and  when  he  rose  at  last  from  the  table,  he  ordered 
a  good  roast  for  the  morrow  in  honor  of  the  guest 
whom  he  intended  to  invite  himself.  Fardlv  had 
the  door  to  his  study  closed  behind  him,  when  little 
Elizabeth  ran  to  Maria  and  clasping  her  about  the 
knees,  cried : 

"  Mother,  isn't  Jonker  Georg  the  big  captain  with 
the  blue  feather  who  ran  downstairs  so  quickly  to 
meet  you  ?" 

"Yes,  child." 

"  And  he  is  coming  to  dinner  to-morrow  !  Adrian, 
he  is  coming !" 

The  little  one  clapped  her  hands  with  delight  and 
then  ran  to  Barbara  to  cry  again  : 

"Aunt  Barbel,  do  you  hear?     He  is  coming!" 

"  And  the  blue  feather  too,"  answered  the 
widow. 


232  THE  BUROOMASTER'S  WIFE, 

"  And  he  has  curls,  curls  as  long  as  Assetidelfl's 
little  Clara's.  May  I  go  with  you  to  Cousin  lien- 
rika,  mother  ?" 

"Later  perhaps,"  answered  Maria.  "Now  go, 
children,  get  the  tlowers  and  sojiai'ate  thcni  nicely 
from  the  leaves.  Trautchen  will  bring  some  hoops 
and  string,  and  then  we  will  make  tiie  garlands." 

Jonker  Georg's  sa\ang,  that  this  was  a  lucky  da}', 
seemed  to  be  proving  true,  for  Maria  found  Ilen- 
rika  bright  and  free  from  pain.  With  tlie  (Ujctor's 
permission,  she  had  been  walking  up  and  down  the 
room  and  sitting  at  tiie  open  window  for  a  long 
time.  She  had  relished  her  chicken,  and,  as  Maria 
entered  she  was  sitting  in  the  cushioned  armchair 
with  the  pleasant  consciousness  of  returning 
strength. 

Maria  was  delighted  with  her  patient's  improved 
appearance  and  told  her  how  well  she  was  looking. 

"I  can  return  tlie  compliment,"  replied  llenrika. 
"You  look  like  happiness  personified.  What  pleas- 
ant thing  has  hap])ened  to  you  to-day  ?" 

"  To  me  ?  My  husband  was  in  a  more  cheerful 
mood  than  usual,  and  there  was  much  to  tell  at 
dinner.  I  have  only  come  to  see  how  you  are. 
A  i(f  wiedersehen.  1  and  the  children  have  a  sad 
task  to  perform." 

"  The  children  ?  What  have  the  elf  and  Signor 
Salvatore  to  do  with  sadness?" 

"  Captain  Allertssohn  is  to  be  buried  to-morrow 
and  we  are  goin";  to  make  wreaths  for  the  collin." 

"  Make  wreaths  !"  cried  llenrika.  "  I  can  teach 
you  how !  Here,  Trautchen,  take  the  plate  and 
send  the  children  to  me." 

The  maid  left  the  room,  but  IMaria  said  anxiously  : 

"  You  are  undertaking  too  much,  llenrika." 

"I?  1  shall  be  singing  to-morrow.  It  is  my 
preserver's  cordial !  I  tell  you,  it  is  doing  wonders. 
Have  you  flowers  and  oak  leaves  enough  i" 


THE  BUROOMASTER'S  WIFE.  233 

« I  should  think  so!" 

At  that  moment  the  door  opened,  and  Lieschen 
entered  the  room  cautiously,  tiptoed  across  to 
Henrika,  and  when  she  had  allowed  herself  to  be 
kissed,  she  said  eagerly  : 

"  Cousin  Henrika,  do  you  know  Jonker  Georg 
with  the  blue  feather  is  coming  again  to-morrow, 
and  is  to  dine  with  us," 

"Jonker  Georg?"  asked  the  fraulein. 

Maria  forestalled  the  child's  reply,  and  answered 
in  a  constrained  tone  : 

"  Herr  von  Dornburg,  an  officer  who  came  into 
the  city  with  the  Englishmen  I  told  you  about — a 
German — an  old  friend.  Go,  Lieschen,  and  help 
Adrian  arrange  the  flowers ;  then  I  will  come  and 
help  you." 

"  But  here,  with  Cousin  Henrika,"  begged  the 
child. 

"  Yes,  little  elf,  yes ;  and  you  and  I  will  make  the 
loveliest  wreath  that  ever  was  seen." 

The  child  ran  out,  and  this  time,  in  her  joy,  for- 
got to  close  the  door  softly. 

Maria  sat  looking  out  of  the  window.  Henrika 
watched  her  in  silence  for  a  time  and  then  ex- 
claimed : 

"  What  is  going  on  in  the  courtyard,  Frau  Maria? 
And  what  has  become  of  the  gladness  in  your  eyes  ? 
Your  house  is  not  overrun  with  guests ;  why  did 
you  wait  for  Lieschen  to  tell  me  about  the  Jonker 
Georg,  the  German,  the  old  friend  ?" 

"  Don't  let  us  talk  about  it,  Henrika." 

"  Yes,  yes !  Do  you  know  what  I  think  ?  The 
storm  of  war  has  blown  into  your  house  the  young 
madcap  with  whom  you  passed  so  many  pleasant 
hours  at  your  sister's  wedding.  Am  I  right  or 
wrong  ?   You  need  not  blush  so  deeply." 

"It   is   he,"  answered   Maria   gravely.     "But  if 


234  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

you  love  me,  forget  what  1  told  you  about  him,  or 
deny  yourself  the  idle  pleasure  of  alluding  to  it,  for 
if  you  should  persist  in  doing  so,  you  would  offend 
me." 
v"How  should  I  ?     You  are  the  wife  of  another.'- 

"  Of  another  whom  1  love  and  honor,  who  trusts 
me,  and  who  himself  invited  the  jonker  to  the 
house.  I  have  liked  the  young  man,  admired  his 
talents,  and  have  been  anxious  about  him  when  he 
trifled  with  his  life." 

"And  now  that  you  have  seen  him  again, 
Maria  2" 

"  I  know  what  my  dut}''  is.  See  that  you  do  not 
disturb  my  inward  peace  by  idle  talk." 

"I  will  not  indeed,  Maria;  but  I  am  curious 
about  this  cavalier  Georg  and  his  singing.  Unfortu- 
nately we  shall  not  be  together  much  longer.  I 
must  go  home." 

"  The  doctor  will  not  let  you  travel." 

"  It  does  not  matter ;  I  shall  go  as  soon  as  I  feel 
well  enough.  My  father  is  refused  admission  to  the 
city,  but  your  husband  can  do  much.  Will  you  tell 
him  that  1  must  speak  with  him  ?" 

"Will  you  receive  him  to-morrow?" 

"The  sooner  the  better;  and  I  say  again,  the 
ground  is  burning  under  my  feet." 

"  Oh  !"  said  Maria. 

"That  sounds  quite  mournful,"  cried  Henrika. 
"  Do  you  wnsh  me  to  say  how  hard  it  is  for  me  to 
part  with  you  ?  I  should  not  go  yet,  but  my  sister 
Anna,  she  is  a  widow  now — thank  God,  I  should 
like  to  say — and  she  is  in  distress  and  utterly'  for- 
saken. I  must  talk  with  my  father  about  her  and 
leave  this  quiet  haven  to  go  out  into  the  storm." 

"  My  husband  shall  come  to  you,"  said  Maria. 

"  Very  well ! — Come  in  children  !  Put  the  flowers 
on  the  table  there.     You,  little  elf,  sit  down  nicely 


THE  B  URGOMASTER  'S  WIFE.  235 

on  the  stool,  and  you,  Salvatore,  hand  me  the 
flowers.  What  is  this  ?  I  really  believe  the  boy 
has  been  putting  perfumed  oil  on  his  curly  head  ! 
In  my  honor,  my  preserver?  Thank  you!  We 
shall  not  need  the  hoops  until  later.  We  will  make 
bunches  first  and  tiien  tie  them  and  the  leaves  to 
the  hoops.  Sing  me  a  song,  Maria,  as  1  work. 
The  first.     I  am  strong  enough  to  bear  it  to-day." 


236  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 


CHAPTEK  XXIIL 

Half  Leyden  followed  the  coffin  of  the  brave 
cnptain,  tind  among  tlie  soldiers  who  paid  the  last 
lioiiors  to  the  gallant  dead  was  Georg  von  Dorn- 
burg.  After  the  funeral,  Wilhelm,  the  musician, 
took  to  his  own  house  the  son  of  the  good  comrade 
whom  so  many  mourned.  Van  der  Werff  had  many 
things  to  attend  to  after  the  funeral,  but  he  kept 
the  noon  hour  free ;  for  he  was  expecting  the 
German  to  dmner. 

The  burgomaster  sat,  as  usual,  at  the  head  of  the 
table  ;  between  him  and  Maria,  and  opposite  Barbara 
and  the  ciiildren,  sat  the  jonker. 

The  widow  was  never  tired  of  looking  at  the 
young  man's  fresh,  sunny  face,  for,  although  her  son 
could  not  compare  with  him  in  good  looks,  there  was 
an  honest  expression  in  the  jonker's  eyes  that 
reminded  her  of  her  Wilhelm. 

Many  a  question  and  answer  had  already  been 
exchanged,  many  pleasant  recollections  revived, 
when  Peter,  after  the  dishes  had  been  removed 
and  a  fresh  flask  of  wine  placed  upon  the  table, 
filled  the  jonker's  glass  anew  and  then  raised  his 
own. 

"  Let  us  drink,"  he  cried,  looking  at  the  young 
nobleman  with  hearty  good  will,  "let  us  drink  to 
the  triumph  of  the  good  cause,  in  which  you  have 
voluntarily  drawn  your  sword.  Thank  you  for 
pledging  me  so  heartily.  Drinking  is  an  art  and 
the  Germans  are  masters  of  it." 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  2Ti 

"  We  learn  it  in  many  places  and  not  the  worst  at 
the  University  of  Jena." 

"All  honor  to  the  doctors  and  professors  who 
bring  their  pupils  to  such  a  state  of  perfection  as  my 
brother-in-law,  and  you  also,  to  judge  from  this 
sample  of  your  prowess." 

"  Leonhard  was  my  master  in  the  ars  hibendi. 
How  long  ago  it  is  !" 

"  Youth  is  not  usually  easily  satisfied,"  answered 
Peter,  "  but  when  it  comes  to  a  question  of  years, 
what  seems  little  to  older  people  seems  much  to 
them.  True,  many  experiences  have  doubtless  been 
crowded  into  the  latter  years  of  your  life.  I  can 
spare  an  hour  or  so,  and,  as  we  are  sitting  here  so 
cozily,  you  might  tell  us,  unless  you  wish  to  keep 
silent  in  regard  to  it,  how  you  left  your  far-away 
home  and  your.  German  and  Latin  books,  to  come  to 
Holland  under  the  Eno-lish  colors." 

"les,"  added  Maria  unaffectedly;  "you  have 
told  me  nothing  yet.  Say  your  grace,  children,  and 
then  go." 

Adrian  looked  beseechingly  from  his  mother  to 
his  father,  and  as  neither  forbade  his  staying  he 
drew  his  chair  close  to  his  sisters,  and  with  their 
heads  together  they  listened  with  wide-open  eyes 
as  the  jonker  began  his  story,  quietly  at  first  and 
then  with  growing  animation. 

"  You  know  that  I  come  from  Thuringia,  a  moun- 
tainous country  in  the  heart  of  Germany.  Our 
castle  stands  in  a  pleasant  valley  watered  by  a  clear 
and  winding  stream.  Wooded  mountains,  not  as 
vast  as  those  of  Switzerland  and  yet  by  no  means 
insignificant,  border  the  narrow  valley.  At  the  foot 
of  the  mountains  lie  fields  and  meadows,  and  higher 
up  rise  forests  of  fir,  which,  like  the  huntsman,  wear 
green  all  the  year  round.  In  winter,  to  be  sure,  the 
snow  covers  them  with  a  mantle  of  glittering  white. 


238  THE  B  UROOMA STER  'S  WIFE. 

"When  spring  awakens,  the  firs  send  out  young 
shoots  as  fresh  and  full  of  sap  as  the  budding  leaves 
on  your  oaks  and  beeches,  and  in  the  meadows  by 
the  river  the  warm  air  seems  filled  with  snow,  for 
^the  fruit  trees  blossom  close  together,  and  when  the 
wind  rises,  the  tender,  white  petals  float  like  snow- 
flakes  throuiih  the  air  and  fall  beside  the  brioht 
flowers  in  the  grass  and  on  the  clear  surface  of  the 
river.  Naked  rock,  too,  there  is  in  plenty  on  the 
higher  portions  of  the  mountains,  and  where  they 
rise  most  precipitously  and  inaccessibly  my  fore- 
fathers have  built  their  stronghold,  to  insure  them- 
selves against  the  attacks  of  their  enemies.  Our 
castle  stands  on  the  crest  of  a  mountain  in  the 
midst  of  the  valley  of  the  Saale.  Here  I  was  born, 
here  I  spent  my  childhood  and  learned  to  read  and 
writs.  There  was  plenty  of  hunting  in  the  forests, 
we  had  spirited  horses  in  the  stables,  and,  wild  lad 
that  I  was,  I  seldom  entered  the  schoolroom  volun- 
tarily. Our  gray-haired  master,  Lorenz,  had  to 
catch  me  when  he  wanted  me.  My  sisters  and 
Hans,  the  3'oungest  child — the  lad  was  only  three 
years  younger  than  I — gave  him  no  trouble.  I  had 
an  older  brother,  and  yet  I  did  not  have  him. 
When  his  beard  was  scarcely  grown  our  gracious 
duke  appointed  him  esquire  to  Chevalier  von  Brand, 
and  he  was  sent  to  S]xiin  to  buy  Andalusian  horses. 
Johann  Friedrich's  father  had  leai'ued  their  value  in 
Madrid  after  the  battle  of  Muhlburg-.  Ludwio^  was 
a  gay  lad  when  he  went  away,  and  there  was  not  a 
horse  but  that  he  could  tame.  It  was  hard  for  our 
parents  to  believe  him  dead,  but  years  passed,  and 
as  neither  he  nor  the  Clievalier  von  Brand  appeared 
we  were  obliged  to  give  him  up  for  lost.  Our 
mother  alone  did  not  give  up  hope,  and  was  alwavs 
expecting  his  return.  My  father  called  me  the 
future  heir  and  lord  of  the  castle.    When  I  had  left 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  239 

boyhood  behind  me  and  understood  Cicero  tolerably 
well  I  was  sent  to  the  University  of  Jena  to  study 
law,  in  order  to  become  a  councilor  of  state,  as  my 
uncle,  the  chancellor,  desired. 

"  Oh,  Jena !  beloved  Jena  !  There  are  days  in 
May  and  in  June  when  only 'fleecy  clouds  fleck  the 
sky,  and  the  leaves  and  flowers  make  so  brave  a 
show  that  one  cannot  help  thinking — and  they 
doubtless  think  so  themselves — that  they  can  never 
wither  and  die  ;  like  such  a  day  is  the  time  of 
merry  student  life  in  a  man's  existence.  You  will 
believe  me,  Leonhard  has  told  you  enough  about 
Jena.  lie  knew  how  to  combine  work  with  pleas- 
ure. As  for  me,  I  learned  little  on  the  wooden 
benches,  for  I  seldom  troubled  them,  and  the  dust 
of  books  certainly  did  not  ruin  my  lungs  ;  but  I 
read  Ariosto  over  and  over  again  ;  I  devoted  m^yself 
diligently  to  singing  ;  and,  when  my  heart  was  full 
of  storm  and  trouble,  I  used  to  compose  many  songs 
for  my  own  comfort.  I  learned  to  use  xny  sword  in 
Jena,  also,  and  1  would  have  liked  to  cross  blades 
with  brave  Captain  AUertssohn,  of  whom  you  have 
told  me.  Leonhard  was  older  than  I,  and  when  he 
had  wo.i  his  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  I  was  still 
weak  in  the  Pandects.  But  we  were  always  close 
friends,  and  so  I  went  with  him  to  Holland  to  be 
present  at  his  wedding.  Ah,  those  were  days ! 
The  theologians  at  Jena  iiave  quarreled  stoutly  over 
the  exact  location  of  the  Garden  of  Eden.  At  that 
time  I  looked  u])on  them  all  as  fools,  and  thought : 
'There  is  but  one  Eden,  and  that  lies  in  Holland, 
and  the  fairest  roses  that  were  awakened  by  the 
dew  on  that  first  sunny  morning  bloom  in  Delft.'  " 

Georg  stopped  confusedly  at  these  words  and 
shook  back  his  curling  locks,  but  as  no  one  interrupted 
him,  and  he  saw  Barbara's  Jitientive  face  and  the 
children's  glowing  cheeks,  he  went  on  more  calmly  : 


240  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"  So  I  returned  to  my  home,  and  learned  for  the 
first  time  that  in  life,  also,  fair,  sunshiny  days  end 
too  often  in  storm.  I  found  ni}'  father  ill,  and  a 
few  days  after  ra}' return  he  closed  his  eyes  forever. 
J  had  never  seen  any  one  die  before,  and  the  first, 
the  very  first,  was  my  father." 

Georg  paused,  and  passed  his  hand  over  his  eyes 
with  deep  emotion, 

"  Your  father,"  said  Barbara,  in  a  tone  of  hearty 
sympathy,  breal^ing  the  silence,  "  to  judge  of  the 
tree  by  the  fruit,  must  have  been  a  fine  man." 

The  jonker  raised  his  head  and  cried  with  shining 
eyes: 

"  Think  of  ever3'thing  that  is  good  and  noble,  and 
embody  it  in  a  tall,  handsome  man,  and  you  have 
the  picture  of  my  father ;  and  if  I  should  tell  you 
of  my  mother " 

"Is  she  still  alive?"  asked  Peter. 

"  God  grant  she  is !"  cried  the  jonker.  "  I  have 
heard  nothing  of  my  family  for  two  months.  There 
are  pleasures  in  every  path,  and  I  am  fond  of  my 
soldier's  calling,  but  it  is  often  hard  to  hear  so  sel- 
dom from  home. 

"  After  my  father's  death  I  was  the  heir,  but  I 
could  take  no  pleasure  either  in  hunting  or  in  riding 
to  court,  in  singing  or  in  the  clinking  of  glasses.  I 
went  about  as  one  in  a  sleep,  and  it  seemed  as  if  I 
had  no  right  to  be  happy  without  my  father.  Then 
— it  is  just  two  years  ago — a  messenger  brought 
from  Weimar  a  letter  which  had  come  from  Italy, 
with  several  others,  for  our  most  gracious  sover- 
eigns;  it  contained  nothing  less  than  the  news  that 
our  lost  brother  was  still  alive,  and  was  lying  ill 
and  in  want  at  the  hospital  at  Bergamo.  A  good 
nun  had  written  for  him,  and  we  now  learned  that 
on  his  way  from  Valencia  to  Livorno,  Ludwig  had 
been  taken  prisoner  by  pirates  and  carried  to  Tunis. 


TBE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFM.  241 

What  he  suffered  there,  amid  what  dangers  he  at 
last  managed  to  gain  his  liberty,  you  shall  hear 
some  other  time.  He  had  escaped  on  a  Genoese 
galle}'  to  Italy.  His  feet  had  carried  him  to  Ber- 
gamo, but  he  could  go  no  further,  and  he  was  now 
lying  ill,  perhaps  dying,  among  charitable  strangers. 
I  lost  no  time  in  starting,  and  did  not  spare  my 
horse  on  the  journey  to  Bergamo ;  and,  although 
there  was  much  to  be  seen  on  the  way  that  was 
beautiful  and  strange,  I  took  but  little  pleasure  in 
it,  for  the  thought  of  Ludwig's  condition  saddened 
me  at  every  turn.  Every  running  brook  hastened 
my  steps,  and  the  lofty  mountains  seemed  like  jeal- 
ous barriers.  Once  beyond  the  mighty  St.  Gotthard, 
my  heart  grew  lighter,  and  as  I  descended  from 
Bellinzona  to  the  Lake  of  Lugano,  and  the  surface 
of  the  sparkling  water  smiled  at  me  like  a  great 
blue  eye,  I  forgot  my  sorrow  for  a  moment,  and, 
waving  my  hat,  1  broke  into  a  song.  At  Bergamo 
I  found  my  brother,  alive,  indeed,  but  feeble  in  body 
and  mind,  languid,  and  with  no  desire  to  bear  the 
burden  of  life  any  longer.  He  was  in  good  hands, 
and  in  a  few  weeks  we  were  able  to  beo;in  our 
homeward  journey — by  the  Tyrol  this  time.  Lud- 
wig's bodily  strength  increased  from  day  to  day, 
but  his  spirit  was  broken.  For  long  years  he  had 
toiled  and  borne  heavy  burdens,  with  chains  on  his 
feet,  under  a  broiling  sun.  Chevalier  Brand  had 
been  unable  to  endure  this  terrible  fate ;  but  Lud- 
wig  had  forgotten  in  Tunis  both  how  to  laugh  and 
to  weep — and  which  of  the  two  can  we  spare  most 
easily  ? 

"Even  at  the  meeting  with  our  mother,  he  could 
not  shed  a  tear,  and  yet  his  whole  body  trembled 
with  emotion,  and  surely  his  heart  was  not  unmoved. 
He  now  rules  quietly  at  the  castle.  In  the  very 
prime  of  life  he  is  an  old  man,  but  he  is  beginning 


242  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

to  accommodate  himself  to  the  world  again,  only  he 
cannot  bear  the  sight  of  a  strange  face.  I  had  a 
hard  struggle  with  him,  for,  as  the  eldest  son,  the 
pastle  and  estate  belonged  to  him,  but  he  wished  to 
give  up  his  rights  and  place  me  in  his  stead.  AVhen 
he  had  brought  our  mother  over  to  liis  side,  and  my 
uncle  and  brothers  and  sisters  strove  to  persuade 
me  to  do  as  he  wished,  I  remained  firm.  1  did  not 
care  to  touch  what  was  not  mine,  and  Hans,  the 
youngest  boy,  had  grown  up  and  could  take  my 
place  wherever  it  was  necessary.  When  the  l)ray- 
ers  and  entreaties  grew  too  much  for  me,  I  saddled 
my  horse  and  went  away  again.  It  w^as  hard  for 
my  mother  to  let  me  go,  but  I  had  tasted  the 
delio^hts  of  travel  and  set  out  as  thouoh  on  mv  way 
to  a  wedding.  To  be  quite  frank,  I  must  confess 
that  I  resigned  castle  and  possessions  as  1  would  a 
heavy  burden.  Free  as  the  air  and  the  cloiuls,  I  took 
the  same  way  that  I  had  taken  with  Leonhard,  for 
in  3'our  country  a  war  was  going  on  quite  after  my 
own  heart,  and  ray  future  fortunes  were  to  be 
dependent  upon  my  sword.  At  Cologne  I  took 
service  under  Louis  of  Nassau,  and  at  Mooker 
Heide  I  fought  until  we  could  hold  our  ground  no 
longer.  My  horse  had  fallen  under  me,  my  doublet 
was  torn,  my  knapsack  lost,  there  was  little  left  me 
save  good  spirits  and  the  hope  of  happier  days. 
Tiiese  soon  came,  for  Captain  Gensfort  pressed  me 
to  join  his  English  troops.  I  became  his  lieutenant 
and  fought  at  his  side  at  Alfen  until  the  powder 
gave  out.     What  took  place  then,  you  know." 

"  And  Captain  van  tier  Laen  has  told  us,"  inter- 
rupted Peter,  "  that  he  owes  his  life  to  you.  You 
fought  like  a  lion  " 

"There  was  hot  fighting  at  the  fort,  and  yet 
neither  I  nor  mv  horse  was  iniured  as  nnich  as  a 
hair.     And  this  time  I  even  saved  my  knapsack  and 


TEE  BURGOMASTER' 8  WIFE.  243 

a  full  purse.  Fate  loves  her  troublesome  children 
tlie  best,  just  as  mothers  do,  and  so  she  has  brought 
me  to  your  house,  Herr  BUrgemeister." 

"  And  I  beo;  of  vou,"  answered  Peter,  "  to 
number  yourself  among  its  inmates.  We  have  two 
pleasant  rooms  that  open  upon  the  courtyard  ;  they 
shall  be  made  readv  for  ^ou  if  you  Avill  accept 
them." 

"  With  pleasure,"  answered  the  jonker,  and  Peter, 
giving  him  his  hand,  said  : 

"  My  duties  call  me  away,  but  you  may  tell  the 
ladies  what  you  need  and  when  you  expect  to  come. 
The  sooner,  the  better  we  shall  like  it.  Is  it  not  so, 
Maria  ?" 

"  You  will  be  welcome,  Jonker  Georg.  No\v  I 
must  go  to  my  patient.  Barbara  will  hear  your 
wishes." 

The  young  wife  took  her  husband's  hand  and  left 
the  room  with  him. 

The  widow  remained  alone  with  the  jonker  and 
questioned  him  as  to  his  needs.  Then  she  followed 
her  sister-in-law,  and  when  she  had  found  her  with 
Henrika,  she  clapped  her  hands  and  exclaimed: 

"  There  is  a  man  for  you !  Fraulein.  I  tell  you 
that,  old  woman  as  I  am,  I  have  never  met  with 
such  a  man.  Such  a  heart,  such  a  heart,  and  so 
handsome  too!  Fortune  showers  benefits  upon  her 
favorites,  'and  unto  him  that  hath,  shall  be  given!' 
Those  are  golden  words!" 


244  TllE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 


CHAPTER  XXiy. 

Peter  had  promised  Henri ka  to  try  and  persuade 
the  council  to  provide  her  with  an  escort. 

It  was  hard  for  her  to  leave  the  burgomaster's 
house.  Maria's  open  nature  had  had  a  good  effect 
upon  her ;  it  seemed  as  though,  in  her  presence,  her 
respect  for  her  own  sex  increased.  She  had  also 
heard  Maria  sing  on  the  previous  day.  Her  voice 
was  like  her  character.  Each  tone  was  clear  and 
flawless  as  a  bell.  She  was  grieved  that  she  would 
not  be  able  to  join  her  in  her  singing.  She  was  also 
sorry  to  part  from  the  children.  And  yet  she  must 
go,  on  Anna's  account,  for  her  father  was  not  to  be 
influenced  bv  letter.  If  she  had  written  to  him, 
beo:o:inof  for  forgiveness  for  the  child  he  had  dis- 
owned,  he  would  scarcely  have  read  the  letter  to 
the  end.  She  could  accomplish  much  more  by 
words,  at  some  favorable  moment.  She  must  speak 
to  him,  but  she  shrank  from  the  life  at  the  castle, 
and  she  had  to  confess  to  herself  that  she  was  any- 
thing but  necessary  to  her  father.  In  order  to  se- 
cure the  inheritance,  he  had  sent  her  to  her  aunt 
and  had  subjected  her  to  a  life  of  misery  ;  while  she 
lay  at  death's  door,  he  had  ridden  to  the  tourne}', 
and  the  letter  she  had  received  from  him  the  day 
before  contained  nothing  but  the  information  that 
he  was  denied  admittance  into  the  city,  and  the 
command  that  she  should  go  to  the  house  of  Jonker 
de  Ileuter  at  the  Hague.  Enclosed  she  found  a  let- 
ter of   safe  conduct  from  the  commander-in-chief, 


TEE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  245 

Valdez,  in  which  all  officers  and  soldiers  were  en- 
joined to  provide  for  her  safety. 

The  burgomaster  proposed  to  have  her  carried  in 
a  litter  and  escorted  to  the  Spanish  lines  by  an 
officer  with  a  flag  of  truce,  and,  as  the  doctor  raised 
no  objection  to  her  wish  to  travel,  she  hoped  to  be 
able  to  leave  that  very  day. 

She  seated  herself  thoughtfully  in  the  recess  and 
looked  out  upon  the  courtyard.  Several  windows 
in  the  eastern  wing  stood  open.  Trautchen  must 
have  risen  early,  for  she  came  out  of  the  rooms  in- 
tended for  the  jonker,  followed  by  a  maid  carrying 
brooms  and  scrubbing  brushes.  Then  Jan  appeared 
with  a  big  armchair  held  over  his  head.  Lieschen 
came  running  after  him,  crying: 

"Aunt  Barbel's  grandfather's  chair;  where  is  she 
going  to  take  her  afternoon  nap,  now?" 

Henrika  heard  the  words,  and  thought  first  of 
good  old  "  Babetta"  and  then  of  Maria  and  of  the 
man  who  was  to  be  quartered  in  the  rooms  opposite. 
Did  not  some  loose  threads  still  remain  of  the  old 
bond  that  had  existed  between  the  burgomaster's 
wife  and  the  handsome  young  officer?  A  slight 
shudder  ran  through  her.  Poor  Meister  Peter, 
poor  Maria!  Was  it  right  to  forsake,  at  this 
moment  of  all  others,  the  woman  who  had  held  out 
a  helping  hand  to  her  in  her  distress?  Yet  her 
sister  stood  much  nearer  to  her  than  this  stranger ! 
Each  da}'^  that  she  remained  in  the  enjoyment  of 
this  peaceful  retreat  seemed  stolen  from  Anna 
— since  she  had  read  in  a  letter  from  her  sister  to 
her  husband,  the  only  one  contained  in  the  dead 
soldier's  wallet,  that  she  was  ill  and  she  and  her 
child  were  in  want. 

Help  was  needed  here  and  she  was  the  only  one 
who  could  give  it. 

With  Maria's  and  Barbara's  assistance  she  packed 


246  THE  B  U  ROOM  A  STEM 'S  WIFE. 

Iier  belongings.  At  noon  all  was  ready  for  her 
departure  and  she  would  not  be  withheld  from 
dininii'  for  the  first  time  with  the  family.  Peter 
was  unable  to  be  present  at  dinner,  so  she  took  his 
^ihice  and  concealed  under  affected  ga3'ety  the 
sorrow  and  misgivings  that  were  oppressing  her. 
At  twilight  the  burgomaster's  wife  and  the  children 
followed  her  into  her  room,  and  she  had  her  harp 
brought  and  began  to  sing.  At  first  many  notes  in 
the  deep  voice  were  weak  and  uncertain,  but  like 
the  snow  that  falls  from  the  mountain  heights  to 
the  plains,  slowlj'',  at  first,  and  hesitatingly,  then 
suddenly  gathers  volume  and  strength,  iier  voice 
gained  gradually  in  fullness  and  power,  and,  when 
at  last  she  leaned  her  harp  against  the  wall  and 
walked,  exhausted,  to  her  chair,  Maria  seized  her 
hand  and  said,  deeply  moved  : 

"  Stay  with  us,  llenrika." 

"  I  cannot,"  answered  the  other.  "  Besides  you 
are  sufficient  to  yourselves.  Shall  I  take  you  with 
roe,  children?" 

Adrian  looked  down  in  embarrassment,  but 
Lieschen  threw  herself  into  her  lap  and  cried  : 

"Where  are  you  going?  Why  not  stay  with 
us  ?" 

There  came  a  knock  at  the  door  at  this  moment 
and  Peter  entered.  His  face  showed  that  he 
brought  no  good  news.  His  request  had  been 
refused  at  the  council.  There  had  been  almost 
unanimous  assent  to  Van  Bronkhorst's  proposal, 
that  the  young  lady,  as  a  relative  of  prominent 
Spanish  sympathizers  among  the  ^Netherland 
nobility,  should  be  detained  in  the  city.  K  it  came 
to  a  surrender,  the  presence  of  Friiulein  van  Iloog- 
straten,  altliough  it  would  scarcely  prevent  pillage 
and  murder,  might  phice  some  restraint  upon  tiie 
leaders.     Peter's  objections  had  been  disregarded; 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  247 

he  toid  the  fniulein  honestly  of  the  struggle  he 
had  had  and  begged  her  to  be  patient  and  remain  in 
his  house  as  a  welcome  guest. 

She  interrupted  him  with  many  violent  exclama- 
tions of  anger  and  indignation,  and  when  she  had 
grown  calmer,  cried  : 

"  I  should  be  glad  to  stay  with  you,  but  you 
know  from  what  this  shameful  decision  is  keeping 
me.  And  then,  to  be  made  a  prisoner,  to  have  to 
go  on  for  weeks  and  months  without  mass  and 
without  confession  !  But  above  all — what  is  to 
become  of  my  unfortunate  sister  V 

Maria  looked  imploringly  at  Peter  and  the  latter 
said  : 

"  If  3^ou  desire  the  consolations  of  your  religion  I 
will  send  Father  Damianus  to  you  and  you  can  hear 
mass  as  often  as  you  like  at  the  convent  of  the  Gray 
Nuns,  near  by.  We  are  not  fighting  against  your 
faith,  but  for  the  free  exercise  of  all  faiths,  and  the 
wdiole  city  is  open  to  you.  Your  anxiety  about  your 
sister,  my  wife  can  help  you  bear  better  than  I  can, 
but  I  would  say  that  whenever  and  wherever  I  can 
help  you  1  will  do  so,  and  not  with  words  alone." 

kSo  saying,  he  held  out  his  hand  to  Henrika.  She 
gave  iiim  hers  and  exclaimed  : 

"  J  am  much  indebted  to  you,  I  know,  but  please 
leave  me  now  and  give  me  until  to-morrow  to 
reHect." 

"  There  is  no  chance  of  the  council  altering  its 
decision  V  asked  Maria. 

"  No,  certainly  not." 

"  Well,  then,"  said  the  burgomaster's  wife 
earnestly,  "you  must  remain  with  us.  The  thought 
of  your  sister  disturbs  my  peace  as  well  as  yours. 
Let  us  think  of  her  first  of  all.  How  are  the  roads 
to  Delft  ?" 

"  They  are  blocked  and  by  to-morrow  or  next  day 
no  one  can  get  through." 


248  THE  B  URGOMA  STER  'S  WIFE. 

"  Then  compose  yourself,  Henrika,  and  let  us 
consider  what  is  to  be  done." 

Then  began  questions  and  counter-questions,  and 
Jlenrika  looked  in  amazement  at  IMaria,  for  she  led 
the  consultation  with  unerring  decision  and  keen- 
ness. It  was  decided  that  the  best  solution  was  to 
find  that  very  day  a  trusty  messenger  to  carry 
money  to  Anna  d'Avila,  and,  if  ])ossible,  bring  her 
to  Holland.  The  burgomaster  declared  himself 
ready  to  advance  from  his  own  purse  a  portion  of 
the  sum  willed  by  the  dead  friiulein  to  Ilenrika's 
sister,  which  legacy  would  undoubtedly  be  recog- 
nized, and  received  his  guest's  thanks  without 
contraint. 

But  whom  could  they  send  ? 

Henrika  thought  of  the  musician,  Wilhelm  ;  he 
was  a  friend  of  her  sister. 

"  But  he  is  in  the  service,''  answered  the  burgo- 
master. "I  know  him.  lie  would  not  leave  the 
city  in  these  times  of  peril;  not  even  for  his  own 
mother." 

"  I  know  the  very  man,"  said  Maria.  "  We  will 
send  Jonker  Georg." 

"  That  is  worth  considering,"  said  Peter.  "  "We 
shall  find  him  at  his  lodgings.  I  must  go  to  Van 
Hout,  who  lives  near  the  inn,  and  1  will  send  the 
young  German  to  you.  But  my  time  is  limited  and 
pretty  women  can  do  much  more  with  such  men 
than  a  man  can.  Farewell,  friiulein,  and  once  more  : 
we  are  glad  that  you  are  to  remain  our  guest." 

When  the  burgomaster  had  left  the  room,  Henrika 
said : 

"How  differently  everything  has  turned  out  from 
what  I  expected !  I  am  fond  of  you,  I  am  indebted 
to  you,  but  to  be  a  prisoner,  a  prisoner!  The  walls 
will  press  upon  me,  the  ceilings  will  crush  me.  I  do 
not  know  whether  to  rejoice  or  despair.    You  can 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  249 

do  much  with  the  jonker.  Tell  him  about  Anna, 
move  his  heart,  and  if  he  were  to  go  it  woidd  indeed 
be  best  for  us  both." 

"  You  mean  for  you  and  your  sistei',"  said  Maria 
with  a  protesting  motion  of  her  hand.  "  There  is 
the  lamp.  I  will  see  you  again  wlien  the  jonker 
comes. 

Maria  went  to  her  room,  and,  once  there,  flung 
herself  upon  the  couch,  but  soon  rose  and  restlessly 
paced  the  room.  Then  stretching  out  her  claspetl 
hands,  she  cried  : 

"  Oh,  if  he  would  onl}"  go,  if  he  would  only  go  ! 
Kind,  gracious  Father  in  heaven,  grant  him  every 
ha])piness,  every  blessing,  but  leave  me  my  peace  of 
mind  ;  let  him  go  and  lead  him  awa}',  far  away  from 
here." 


250  TUE  BURGOMASTER' 8  WIFE. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

AqUxVnus'  tavern  stood  on  the  "Breite  Strasse," 
and  was  an  imposing  building  with  a  great  court- 
yard, where  numerous  vehicles  were  standing.  At  the 
left  of  the  entrance  was  a  spacious  room  devoid  of 
doors,  and  into  which  one  entered  by  a  lofty  arch- 
way. Here  drivers  and  other  folk  were  sitting 
over  their  beer  and  wine  and  good-naturedly  suffer- 
ing the  landlord's  hens  to  alight  upon  the  benches 
ami  occasionally  upon  the  very  tables ;  here,  before 
the  great  hearth,  vegetables  were  being  prepared 
and  cooked ;  here  the  sturdy  hostess  was  not  seldom 
obliged  to  call  upon  the  strapping  maid  and  men- 
servants  for  help  when  the  guests  came  -lo  actual 
blows,  or  some  one  drank  more  than  was  good  for 
him.  Here,  too,  the  new  practice  of  smoking  was 
being  indulged  in,  though  only  by  a  few  sailors  who 
had  served  on  Spanish  ships — but  Frau  van  Aken 
could  not  bear  the  acrid  smoke,  and  kept  open  the 
windows  where  stood  blossoming  carnations,  slender 
stalUs  of  balsam,  and  bird-cages  filled  with  brilliant 
goldfinches.  On  the  other  side  of  the  entrance 
were  two  closed  rooms.  Above  the  door  of  the 
first,  were  neatlv  carved  in  wood  the  lines  from 
Horace : 

"/^fc<3  terrarum  mihi  proeter  omnes 
Angulus  ridety^ 

*  Of  all  corners  of  the  earth  there  is  none  that  suits  me 
better. 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  251 

To  this  long  and  narrow  room,  only  a  few  favored 
guests  found  admittance.  It  was  entirely  wains- 
coted with  wood,  and  in  the  center  of  the  richly 
carved  ceiling  wus  an  extraordinary  picture  painted 
in  brilliant  hues.  It  rejiresented  the  master  of  the 
iiouse.  The  worthy  man  with  the  smooth  face,  the 
firmly  closed  mouth,  and  the  long  nose,  which 
afforded  an  admirably  straight  line  for  its  owners' 
enoravino-  tool,  was  seated  on  a  throne  in  the  cos- 
tume  of  a  Roman  general,  while  Yulcan  and 
Bacchus,  Minerva  and  Pomona  were  offering  him 
gifts.  Klaus  van  Aken,  or  as  he  preferred  to  call 
himself,  Nikolaus  Aq nanus,  w^as  an  unusual  man, 
who  had  indeed  received  favors  at  the  hands  of 
more  tlian  one  inmate  of  Olympus  ;  for  in  addition 
to  his  calling,  he  devoted  himself  with  zeal  to 
science  and  various  arts.  He  was  a  skillful  silver- 
smith, a  die-cutter,  and  engraver  of  great  ability,  an 
excellent  judge  of  coins,  an  industrious  scholar,  and 
a  collector  of  antiquities.  His  little  taproom  was 
also  a  museum ;  for  on  the  shelves  that  lined  the 
entire  room  stood  curios  of  every  description,  neatW 
arrano-ed  and  in  g^reat  abundance;  old  tankards  and 
mugs,  small  and  large  coins,  gems  in  carefully'  locked 
glass  cases,  antique  lamps  of  clay  and  bronze,  stones 
with  Roman  inscriptions,  Roman  and  Greek  terra- 
cotta, polished  bits  of  marble  that  he  had  found 
among  Italian  ruins,  the  head  of  a  faun,  an  arm,  a 
foot,  and  other  fragments  of  pagan  art ;  a  beauti- 
fully enameled  casket  of  Byzantine  work,  and 
another  from  Limoges  ;  ]mrt  of  a  Roman  coat-of- 
mail,  and  a  piece  of  mosaic  from  a  Roman  bath 
were  also  to  be  seen  here.  Among  these  antiquities 
stood  beautiful  bits  of  Venetian  glass,  pine  cones, 
and  ostrich  eggs.  Another  such  taproom  was  not 
to  be  found  in  all  Holland,  and  the  wines  that  a  neat 
barmaid  poured  from  curiously  shaped  flagons  into 


252  THE  BUR00MASTE1V8  WIFE. 

goblets  of  fine  workmanship  were  of  unusual  excel- 
lence. In  this  room  Ilerr  Aquanus  was  accustomed 
to  appear  in  person  among  his  guests,  while  in  the 
room  opposite  his  wife  held  sway. 

The  "  Angulus,"  as  the  handsome  room  was 
usually  called,  was  but  sparsely  filled,  for  the  sun 
had  set  but  a  short  time  before.  The  candles  were 
already  lighted.  Tiiey  stood  in  tall,  three-branched, 
iron  candelabras.  Every  part  of  the  latter,  the 
slender  central  stem  as  well  as  the  curved  and  inter- 
twining branches,  had  been  carefully  wrought  by 
Aquanus'  own  hand. 

Several  elderly  gentlemen  were  seated  at  a  table 
over  their  wine  ;  at  another  sat  Captain  van  der 
Laen,  a  gallant  Hollander  who  served  under  the 
English  colors,  and  had  come  into  the  city  with  the 
other  defenders  of  Alfen,  the  musician,  AVilhelm, 
Jonker  Georg,  and  their  host. 

"  It  is  a  pleasure  to  meet  men  like  you,  jonker," 
Aquanus  was  saying.  "  You  have  traveled  with 
your  e3^es  open,  and  my  curiosity  is  roused  by  what 
vou  tell  me  of  Brescia.  I  should  like  to  have  the 
inscription." 

"  I  will  get  it  for  you,"  answered  the  jonker,  "  for 
unless  the  Spaniards  send  me  into  another  world 
I  shall  certainly  cross  the  Alps  again.  Did  you  find 
any  of  these  Roman  antiquities  in  your  own 
country  ?" 

"  Yes.  Near  the  Koomburg  canal,  the  site  of  the 
old  Prjetorium  perhaps,  and  near  Katwyk.  The 
ancient  forum  Jladriani  doubtless  stood  in  the 
vicinity  of  Voorburg.  It  w^as  there  that  I  found  the 
coat-of-mail  3'onder." 

"  An  old,  mold}'^,  rust-eaten  thing,"  cried  Georg. 
"  And  yet !  What  thoughts  the  sight  of  it  calls  up  ! 
Did  not  some  Roman  armorer  forge  it  perhaps  for 
the  wandering  emperor  ?     AYhen  I  look  at  this  coat- 


THE  B UBOOMASTER '8  WIFE.  253 

of-raail,  Rome  and  her  legions  rise  before  my  eyes. 
Who  would  not,  like  you,  Herr  Wilhelm,  visit  the 
Tiber  and  prolong  the  short  span  of  the  present  by 
meditating  upon  past  centuries?" 

"  I  should  be  glad  to  visit  Italy  again  with  you," 
answered  Wilhelm, 

"  And  I  with  you." 

"  Let  us  secure  our  liberty  first,"  returned  the 
musician.  "  When  that  is  done,  a  man's  time  can 
be  his  own,  and  then — why  should  I  conceal  it — there 
will  be  nothing  to  keep  me  in  Leyden." 

"And  the  organ?  And  3- our  father?"  asked 
Aquarius. 

"  My  brothers  are  content  to  remain  at  home," 
answered  Wilhelm,  "  but  something  urges,  drives 
me " 

''  There  are  placid  waters  on  the  earth,"  inter- 
rupted Georg,  "  the  fixed  stars  remain  stationary  in 
the  sky,  and  the  planets  must  continue  their  wander- 
ings. Some  men  are  contented  with  their  lot  and 
others  are  birds  of  passage  like  us.  I  glory  in  being 
what  we  are.  There  is  no  need  for  you  to  go  to 
Italy  to  hear  fine  singing,  though.  I  have  just  heard 
a  voice,  a  voice " 

"  Where  ?  I  am  all  eagerness." 

"  In  the  courtyard  of  Yan  der  Werff's  house." 

"  It  was  the  burgomasters  wife." 

"  Oh,  no,  her  voice  is  very  different." 

During  this  conversation  the  captain  had  risen  and 
was  examining  the  host's  curious  treasures.  Finally 
he  paused  before  a  board  upon  wdiich  the  head  of 
an  ox  was  sketched  in  charcoal  with  free,  bold 
lines. 

"  That  is  a  magnificent  specimen  of  an  ox,"  he 
remarked  to  the  host. 

"  It  was  drawn  by  no  less  a  man  than  Frank 
Floris,"     answered     Aquanus.       "He    once    came 


254  ^'he  b  u room  a  ster  'S  wife. 

here  from  Brussels  to  see  Meister  Artjen.  But  the 
old  man  luul  g-one  out.  Floris  took  up  a  piece  of 
charcoal  and  made  this  sketch.  When  Artjen  came 
home  and  found  the  ox's  head,  he  stood  before  it 
a  long  time  and  at  last  cried  :  '  Frank  Floris,  or  the 
devil!'  This  story —  Ihit  tliere  comes  Ilerr  Biirge- 
meister.  Welcome,  Meister  Peter !  This  is,  indeed; 
a  rare  honor." 

All  the  guests  rose  and  saluted  Yan  der  Werflf 
respectfully.  Georg  too  sprang  up  to  offer  him  his 
chair.  Peter  seated  himself  for  a  moment  and 
drank  a  glass  of  wine,  but  soon  after  he  beckoned  to 
the  jonker  and  led  him  out  into  the  street. 

There  he  briefly  requested  liim  to  go  to  his  house 
as  thev  had  an  important  communication  to  make 
to  him  tliere.  Then  he  walked  away  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  house  of  the  clerk  of  the  council. 

Georg  walked  on  eagerly  toward  his  destina- 
tion. 

By  "  they,"  none  other  than  Maria  could  be 
meant.  What  could  she  want  of  him  at  so  late  an 
hour?  Perhaps  his  friends  had  regretted  having 
offered  him  shelter  beneath  their  roof.  He  was  to 
move  into  his  new  quarters  early  the  following 
morning.  Perhaps  they  wished  to  inform  him  of 
their  change  of  mind,  before  it  was  too  late.  Maria's 
manner  toward  him  was  very  different  from  what 
it  had  formerly  been,  there  was  no  doubt  of  that, 
but  it  was  quite  natural !  He  had,  indeed,  dreamed 
of  a  different,  a  very  -different  meeting!  He  had 
come  to  Holland  to  aid  the  good  cause  of  Orange, 
but  he  would  certainly  have  turned  his  horso,  not 
north,  but  toward  his  beloved  Italy  where  a  good 
sword  was  always  in  demand,  if  lie  had  not  hijjied 
to  find  in  Holland  her  whom  he  had  never  forgotten 
and  for  whom  he  had  never  ceased  to  long.  iS'ow 
she  was  the  wife  of  another  man,  a  num   who  had 


THE  BUROOMASTKR'S  WIFE.    .  255 

been  kind  to  him  and  who  trusted  him.  To  tear  his 
love  from  his  heart  was  impossible;  but  he  owed  it 
to  her  husband  and  to  his  own  honor  to  remain 
strong,  to  suppress  every  thought  of  calling  her  Km 
own,  and  to  take  pleasure  only  in  seeing  her ;  this 
he  must  strive  to  accomplish. 

He  had  already  said  this  to  himself  more  than 
once,  but  when  she  met  him  outside  the  dining-room 
and  he  felt  how  cold  and  tremulous  was  the  hand 
she  placed  in  his,  he  realized  more  than  ever  that 
he  was  walking  on  a  narrow  path  with  very  uncer- 
tain steps. 

She  preceded  him  to  Henrika's  room  and  he 
followed  silently.  Ilenrika  welcomed  him  with 
a  friendly  gesture.  Both  ladies  were  reluctant  to 
begin  the  conversation,  but  the  young  officer, 
glancing  around  him  hastily  and  seeing  that  he 
was  in  the  room  that  overlooked  the  courtyard,  said 
eagerly : 

''  I  was  in  the  courtyard  a  little  before  dark,  to 
take  a  look  at  my  new  quarters,  and  I  heard  singing 
in  this  room,  and  such  singing !  I  did  not  know  at 
first  what  was  coming,  for  the  tones  were  husky, 
weak,  and  tremulous,  but  then — then  they  burst 
forth  like  a  stream  of  lava  through  the  ashes.  One 
cannot  help  wishing  many  sorrows  to  one  who  can 
give  such  expression  to  them." 

"  You  shall  become  acquainted  with  the  singer," 
said  Maria,  pointing  to  her  friend.  "Fraulein 
Henrika   van   Hoogstraten,   an   honored    guest    of 


ours  " 


"  You  were  the  singer  ?"  asked  Georg. 

"  Does  it  surprise  you  ?"  answered  Henrika.  "  My 
voice  has  kept  its  strength  better  than  my  body, 
weakened  by  long  illness.  I  know  how  sunken  iny 
eyes  are  and  how  pale  1  must  be.  Singing  relieves 
suffering,  but  I  have  had  to  do  long  without  my 


256  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WTFE. 

comforter.  Not  a  note  has  passed  my  lips  for  weeks 
and  now  my  heart  is  so  lieavv  that  I  would  rather 
weep  than  sing.  '  What  is  that  to  me  ?'  3'ou  say,  and 
yet  Maria  has  given  me  the  courage  to  make  an 
unparalleled  request  of  ^-ou." 

"  ISpeak,  speak,"  said  Georg  eagerly.  "  If  Frau 
Maria  appeals  to  me  and  1  can  serve  you,  my 
dear  lady,  here  I  stand.  Do  with  me  what  you 
will." 

Henrika  did  not  avoid  his  frank  glance  as  she 
answered  : 

"  Hear,  first,  how  great  a  service  we  ask  of  you. 
At  the  very  beginning  you  must  resign  yourself  to 
hear  a  short  story.  I  am  still  weak  and  my  strength 
has  been  put  to  a  severe  test  to-daj.  Maria  will 
speak  for  me." 

Maria  fulfilled  her  task  quietly  and  concisely  and 
closed  with  the  words  : 

."•  I  have  myself  found  the  messenger  we  need.  It 
is  you,  Jonker  Georg." 

Henrika  had  not  once  interrupted  the  burgomas- 
ter's wife,  but  she  now  said  warmly : 

"This  is  the  first  time  I  have  met  you  but  I  trust 
you  perfectly.  A  few  hours  ago  black  would  have 
been  my  color,  but  if  3'^ou  will  be  ray  knight,  I  will 
choose  green,  for  I  begin  to  hope  anew.  Will  you 
undertake  tiie  quest  for  me  ?" 

Georg  had  kept  his  eyes  fixed  upon  the  ground. 
He  now  raised  his  head  and  said  : 

"  If  I  can  obtain  leave,  I  will  place  myself  at  your 
disposal;  but  my  lad^^'s  color  is  blue  and  I  may 
wear  no  other." 

Henrika's  lips  trembled  slightly,  but  the  jonker 
went  on : 

"  Captain  van  der  Laen  is  my  superior  officer.  I 
will  speak  to  him  at  once." 

"  And  if  he  says  no  T  asked  Maria, 


THE  BUnaOMASTJER'S  WIFJS.  25-? 

Ilenrika  interrupted  her  and  answered  hauohtily  : 

"  Then  be  so  kind  as  to  send  the  musician  AVilhelm 
to  me." 

Georg  bowed  and  returned  to  the  inn. 

As  soon  as  the  two  women  were  alone,  the 
f  riiulein  asked  : 

"Do  you  know  who  Herr  von  Dorn burg's  lady 
isT 

"How  should  I?"  answered  Maria.  "You  must 
take  some  rest,  friiulein.  As  soon  as  the  jonker 
returns,  I  will  bring  liiin  to  you." 

The  young  wife  went  out  and  seated  herself  at 
the  spinning-wheel  beside  Barbara.  Georg  kept 
them  waiting  a  long  time.  He  returned  at  last  at 
midnight,  and  he  did  not  come  alone  but  with  two 
companions.  It  had  not  been  in  the  captain's  power 
to  grant  liim  leave  of  absence  for  several  weeks — it 
would  require  that  time  to  make  the  journey  to 
Lugano — but  the  jonker  had  gone  at  once  to  consult 
witli  the  musician,  and  the  latter  had  found  the 
rio'ht  messenger,  ^^ilhelm  had  soon  come  to  an 
agreement  with  the  man  and  had  brought  him 
there  without  delay :  it  was  the  old  steward, 
Belotti. 


258  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

The  spacious  shootino-  grounds  that  lay  not  far 
from  the  White  Gate,  between  the  Ilapenbiirg  and 
the  city  wall,  presented  an  animated  scene  on  the 
morning  of  the  following  day,  for,  by  the  decree  of 
the  council,  all  burghers  and  inhabitants,  without 
exception,  rich  and  poor,  high  and  low,  were  to 
take  a  solemn  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  prince  and  to 
the  good  cause. 

Under  a  clump  of  lindens,  stood,  in  robes  of  state, 
Commissioner  van  Bi-onkhorst,  J^urgomaster  van 
der  Werff,  and  two  aldermen,  who  were  to  adminis- 
ter the  oath  to  the  tiiroiig  of  old  men,  young  men, 
and  boys.  The  solemn  ceremony  jjad  not  yet  be- 
gun. Janus  Dousa,  in  full  uniform,  his  coat-of-mail 
over  his  leathern  doublet  and  his  helmet  on  his 
head,  approached  ]\[eister  Peter  and  the  commis- 
sioner, arm-in-arm  with  Van  Ilout. 

"  It  is  as  I  told  you  !"  he  said,  "  There  is  not  one 
missing  from  among  the  humbler  classes,  but  the 
gentlemen  in  velvet  and  fur  are  but  poorly  repre- 
sented." 

"  They  shall  come  yet !"  cried  Van  Hout  threaten- 
ingly, 

"  What  will  forced  oaths  avail  us  T  answered  the 
burgomaster.  "He  who  wishes  freedom,  must 
grant  freedom.  Moreover,  this  hour  will  sliow  us 
upon  whom  we  may  rel3\" 

"  There  is  not  a  man  of  the  burgher  guard  miss- 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WTFM.  259 

ing,"  said  the  commissioner.  "  That  is  encouraging. 
Wiiat  is  that  up  there  in  the  tree  ?" 

The  men  looked  up  and  discovered  Adrian,  who 
had  hidden  himself  in  the  branches  of  one  of  the 
lindens. 

"The  boy  must  be  everywhere!"  cried  Peter. 
"Come  down,  you  rascal.  You  appear  at  the  right 
time." 

The  lad  swung  himself  from  a  branch  to  the 
ground  and  approached  his  father  with  the  air  of  a 
repentant  sinner,  which  he  knew  how  to  assume 
when  occasion  required.  The  burgomaster  did  not 
reprove  him  but  bade  him  go  home  and  tell  his 
mother  that  there  was  no  possibility  of  getting 
Belotti  safely  through  the  Spanish  lines,  and  further, 
that  Father  Damianus  had  promised  to  visit  the 
friiulein  in  the  course  of  the  day.  "Hurry, 
Adrian,"  he  went  on,  "  and  you,  constables,  see 
that  all  intruders  are  kept  away  from  here,  for  any 
place  where  an  oath  is  taken  becomes  sacred 
ground.  The  clergymen  have  seated  themselves 
yonder  near  the  targets.  They  have  the  ]irece- 
dence.  Have  the  goodness  to  call  them.  Van  Hout. 
Dominie  Verstroot  wishes  to  make  an  address  and 
then  I  would  like  to  speak  a  few  words  of  exhorta- 
tion myself  to  the  people." 

Yan  Hout  moved  away,  but  before  he  had 
reached  the  clergyman,  Jonker  van  Warmond  ap- 
peared and  announced  that  a  messenger,  a  comely 
lad,  had  arrived  witli  a  flag  of  trace.  He  was 
waiting  at  the  White  Gate  and  had  a  letter  to 
deliver. 

"From  Valdez?" 

"  I  do  not  know  ;  but  the  lad  is  a  Hollander  and 
his  face  is  familiar  to  me." 

"  Bring  him  here  ;  but  do  not  disturb  us  until  the 
administration  of  oaths  is  over.     Let  the  messeng-er 


260  THE  B  URGOMA  STER  'S  WIFE. 

tell  Vaklez  what  he  has  seen  and  heard.  It  will  be 
well  for  ihe  Castilian  to  know  from  the  first  what 
we  meari  to  do." 

^  The  jonker  took  his  departure,  and  when  he  re- 
turned to  the  shooting  grounds  with  Nicolas  van 
Wibisma — for  he  was  the  messenger — Dominie 
Yerstroot  had  ended  his  stirring  address.  Van  der 
AVerff  was  still  speaking.  The  sacred  fire  of  enthu- 
siasm shone  in  his  eyes  and,  although  the  few  words 
that  he  addressed  to  his  assembled  fellow  combat- 
ants were  simple  and  unpretending,  they  found 
their  way  to  his  hearers'  hearts. 

Nicolas  also  listened  to  the  speech  with  glowing 
cheeks,  and  it  seemed  as  though  the  tall,  earnest 
man  under  the  lindens  were  s])eaking  to  him  and  to 
him  alone  when,  at  the  close  of  his  speech,  he 
raised  his  voice  and  cried  with  exaltation  : 

"  And  now,  let  come  what  will !  A  brave  man  in 
your  midst  said  to-day  :  '  We  will  not  yield  as  long 
as  we  have  a  hand  left  to  carry  bread  to  our  mouths 
and  to  hold  a  sword.'  If  we  all  think  thus,  twenty 
Spanish  armies  will  find  their  graves  before  these 
walls.  Upon  Leyden  depends  the  freedom  of  Hol- 
land. If  we  waver  and  fall,  to  escape  the  misery 
that  only  threatens  us  to-day  but  will  o})press  and 
torture  us  without  pity  later,  our  children  will  say: 
'  The  men  of  Leyden  were  blind  cowards  ;  it  is  their 
fault  tiiat  the  name  of  Hollander  is  no  more  re- 
spected than  that  of  a  miserable  slave!'  But  if  we 
hold  out  faithfully  and  resist  tlie  grim  foreigner  to 
the  last  man  and  the  last  crust  of  bread,  they  will 
think  of  us  with  tears  and  cr}'  joyfully  :  '  It  is  due 
to  them  that  our  noble,  industrious,  ha))py  people 
can  place  itself  proudly  beside  the  other  nations.' 
He  who  loves  honor,  who  is  not  a  degenerate  son 
who  betrays  his  father's  house ;  he  who  would 
rather  be  a  free  man  than  a  bondsman,  let  him  cry 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  261 

with  me,  before  raising  his  hand  in  a  solemn  vow 
to  God  :  '  Long  live  Orange  and  free  Holland  !'  " 

"  Long  shall  they  live !"  shouted  hundreds  of 
powerful  voices,  five,  ten,  twenty  times.  The  gun- 
ner discharged  the  cannon  planted  near  the  targets, 
the  air  shook  with  the  rolling  of  drums  and  the 
repeated  flourish  of  trumpets,  the  ringing  of  bells 
from  ev^ery  tower  in  the  city  echoed  above  the 
heads  of  the  enthusiastic  crowd,  and  the  cheering 
continued,  uninterrupted,  until  the  commissioner 
made  a  sign  and  the  administration  of  the  oath 
began. 

The  guilds  and  the  armed  defenders  of  the  city 
pressed  forward  toward  the  lindens.  Hands  were 
raised,  now  enthusiastically,  now^  with  dignified 
composure,  now  with  thoughtful  exaltation.  One 
hour  and  then  another  passed  before  all  had  been 
sworn,  and  many  who  had  advanced  together  to 
the  lindens  grasped  each  other's  hands  earnestly  in. 
a  second,  silent  vow, 

Nicolas  van  Wibisma  sat  silently  beside  a  target 
opposite  the  sjiot  where  the  oath  was  being  admin- 
istered, but  painful,  bitter  thoughts  were  surging  in 
his  breast.  How  gladly  he  would  have  wept  aloud 
and  torn  his  father's  letter  to  fragments!  How 
gladly,  when  he  saw  the  venerable  Herr  van  Mont- 
fort  advance  hand  in  hand  with  the  gray-haired 
Seigneur  von  jSTordwyk,  would  he  have  hastened  to 
their  side  to  take  the  oath  and  cry  to  the  earnest 
man  under  the  lindens  : 

"  I  am  not  a  degenerate  wretch  who  betravs  his 
father's  house  ;  I  will  not  be  a  bondsman,  I  will  not 
be  a  Spaniard  ;  I  am  a  Netherlander  like  you." 

But  he  did  not  go,  he  did  not  speak,  he  remained 
sitting  motionless  until  the  ceremony  was  ended  and 
the  Jonker  van  AVarmond  conducted  him  to  the 
lindens.     The   clerk   of   the   council   and   the  two 


262  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

Seigneurs  van  der  Does  had  joined  the  other 
magistrates.  With  a  silent  bow,  Nicohis  handed 
the  burgomaster  his  father's  letter.  Van  der  "Werff 
^  opened  it,  and,  when  he  had  read  it,  handed  it  to  the 
other  gentlemen  ;  then  turning  to  Nicolas,  he  said : 

"  Wait  here,  jonker.  Your  father  counsels  us  to 
surrender  the  city  to  the  Spaniards  and  i)i'omises  us 
the  king's  clemency.  You  cannot  be  in  doubt  as  to 
our  answer,  after  what  3'ou  have  seen  here." 

"  There  is  but  one  answer,"  cried  Yan  Hout  as  he 
read,  "  and  that  is,  to  tear  the  thing  up  and  make 
no  reply." 

"  Ride  home,  now,  and  God  be  with  you,"  added 
Janus  Dousa;  "but  wait,  I  will  give  you  something 
for  the  commander  in-chief." 

"  Then  you  will  deign  no  reply  to  my  father's 
letter?"  asked  Nicolas. 

"  No.  jonker.  We  wish  to  have  no  dealings  with 
Baron  Matenesse,"  answered  the  commissioner. 
"As  for  you,  you  may  return  or  wait  here  ;  just  as 
you  choose." 

"Go  to  your  cousin,  jonker,"  said  Janus  Dousa 
kindly  ;  "  it  will  be  an  hour  before  I  have  found 
paper  and  ink  and  sealing  wax.  Fniulein  van 
lloogstraten  will  be  glad  to  hear  of  her  father 
through  you." 

"  If  you  choose,  young  sir,  my  house  stands  open 
to  you,"  added  the  burgomaster. 

Nicolas  hesitated  a  moment  and  then  said 
quickly : 

"  Yes,  take  me  to  my  cousin." 

When  the  lad  arrived  at  the  north  end  in  com- 
pany with  Herr  van  Warmond,  who  had  under- 
taken to  escort  him,  he  asked  : 

"You  are  Jonker  van  Duivenvoorde,  Ilerr  van 
AYarraond  ?" 

"  I  am  he." 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFK.  263 

"  And  you  were  among  the  Beggars  who  took 
Brill  from  the  Spaniards  f 

"  1  had  that  good  fortune." 

"  And  yet  you  belong  to  the  old  nobility,  and 
there  were  other  nobles  among  the  Beggars,  were 
there  not  ?" 

"  Most  assuredly.  Do  you  think  it  ill  becomes  us 
to  have  some  love  for  the  home  of  our  fathers?  My 
ancestors  and  yours  were  noble  before  a  single 
Spaniard  trod  this  soil." 

"But  King  Philip  rules  us  as  rightful  sovereign," 

"Unfortunately.  And  therefore  we  obey  liis 
stadtholder,  the  prince,  who  rules  in  his  name.  The 
perjured  tyrant  needs  a  guardian.  Question  me 
further  ;  I  shall  be  glad  to  answer." 

Nicolas  let  this  invitation  pass  unheeded  and 
walked  on  beside  his  companion  in  silence  until  they 
reached  the  Achtergracht.  Tiiere  he  stopped,  and, 
seizing  the  captain's  arm,  he  burst  out  excitedly  : 

"It  is  breaking  my  heart.  I  must  tell  some  one  ! 
I  want  to  be  a  Netherlander.  I  hate  the  Castilians. 
I  have  come  to  know  them  at  Leyderdorp  and  at  the 
Hague.  They  pay  no  heed  to  me  because  I  am 
young  and  the}^  do  not  know  that  I  understand 
their  language.  My  eyes  have  been  o])ened.  When 
they  speak  of  us,  it  is  with  scorn  and  contem])t.  I 
know  all  that  Alva  and  Vargas  have  done.  From 
the  Spaniards'  own  lips  I  have  heard  that  they  wish 
to  destroy  us,  exterminate  us.  If  I  could  only  do  as 
I  wished,  and  if  it  were  not  for  my  father,  1  know 
well  what  I  should  do.  My  head  is  still  in  a  whirl. 
The  burgomaster's  speech  is  driving  me  mad.  Tell 
him,  jonker,  I  beg  of  you,  tell  him  that  I  hate  the 
Spaniards  and  that  lam  proud  of  being  a  Nether- 
lander." 

Both  had  already  resumed  their  way,  and  as  they 
drew  nearer  to  the  burgomaster's  house  the  captain, 


204  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

who  had  listened  to  the  lad  with  pleasant  surpi-ise, 
said  : 

"  There  is  good  stuff  in  yon,  jonker,  anil  you  are 
on  the  right  road.  Keep  Ilei-r  Peter's  speech  in 
mind  and  remember  what  you  have  learned  in 
history.  Whose  names  stand  forth  in  the  pages  of 
tlie  world's  history  ?  Tlie  names  of  tyrants,  their 
slaves  and  eye-servers,  or  the  men  who  liave  lived 
and  died  for  liberty  ?  Ui)  with  your  head  I  Tliis 
struggle  will  outlive  us  both,  ])erhaps,  and  you  still 
have  plenty  of  time  to  place  yourself  on  the  right 
side.  Tlie  noble  should  serve  his  prince,  but  he 
should  not  be  the  creature  of  any  sovereign,  last  of 
all  of  a  foreigner,  the  enemy  of  his  people.  Here 
we  are.  I  will  come  for  \'ou  in  an  hour.  Give 
me  your  hand.  I  should  like  to  call  you  by  your 
Christian  name  in  future,  my  brave  Nico." 

"  Yes,  call  me  so  ;"  cried  the  jonker,  "and  you 
will  not  send  any  one  in  your  place,  will  3'ou  ?  1 
should  like  to  talk  with  you  again." 

At  the  burgomaster's  house  the  jonker  was 
received  by  Barbara.  Henrika  could  not  see  him 
immediately.  Father  Damianus  was  with  her,  so 
he  was  obliged  to  wait  in  the  dining-room  until  the 
priest  appeared.  Nicolas  knew  him  well  and  had 
even  confessed  to  him  once  the  year  before.  When 
he  had  saluted  the  venerable  man  and  had  answered 
his  question  as  to  how  he  had  come  there,  he  said 
without  further  ceremony  : 

"Good  father,  forgive  me;  but  something  is 
weighing  upon  my  heart.  You  are  a  holy  man  and 
you  must  know.  Is  it  a  sin  for  a  Hollander  to  dee 
up  arms  against  the  Spaniards  ?  is  it  a  sin  lor  a 
Hollander  to  wish  to  remain  what  the  good  Lord 
himself  made  him  ?     I  cannot  believe  it." 

"Nor  do  I,"  answered  Father  Damianus  simply. 
"Whoever  holds  fast  to  the  holy  church,  whoever 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  265 

loves  his  neighbor  and  strives  to  do  what  is  right, 
may  safely  be  on  the  side  of  Holland  and  fight  and 
pray  for  the  freedom  of  his  country.-' 
"  Ah  !"  said  Nicolas  with  shining  eyes. 
"  For  look  you,"  went  on  Father  Damianus  more 
vehemently,  "  they  were  good  Catholics  here  and 
prayed  devoutly  and  in  a  manner  pleasing  to  God, 
before  the  Spaniards  ever  came  into  the  country. 
"Why  should  it  not  be  so  again  ?  The  Almighty  has 
separated  the  nations  because  it  is  His  will  that 
they  should  lead  their  own  lives  and  order  them  to 
their  good  and  His  honor ;  but  not  to  give  to  the 
stronger  nation  the  right  to  torture  and  oppress 
another.  Suppose  3^our  father  were  taking  a  walk 
and  a  Spanish  grandee  were  to  spring  upon  his 
shoulders  and  make  him  taste  whip  and  spur  as 
though  he  were  iiis  horse.  It  would  fare  ill  with 
the  Castilian  !  Put  Holland  in  the  place  of  Baron 
Matenesse  and  powerful  Spain  in  the  place  of  the 
grandee  and  you  w^ill  know  what  I  mean.  Thus 
there  13  nothing  left  us  to  do  but  to  throw  off  the 
oppressor.  The  holy  church  will  suffer  no  harm 
thereby.  God  has  established  it  and  it  will  stand 
whether  King  Philip  or  another  reign  here.  Now 
you  know  my  opinion.  Am  I  mistaken  in  believing 
that  the  name  of  Glipper  is  no  longer  pleasing  to 
you,  my  dear  jonker  V 

"No,  Father  Damianus!  You  are  right,  a 
thousand  times  right.  It  is  no  sin  Lo  wish  for  a 
free  Holland." 

"  Who  told  you  that  it  was  ?" 
"  Canon  Bermont  and  our  chaplain." 
"  Then  I  differ  with  them  on  this  worldly  ques- 
tion. Pender  to  God  wiiat  is  God's,  and  remain 
where  the  Lord  has  placed  you.  If  you  still  wish 
to  fight  for  Holland  when  your  beard  has  grown, 
do  so  with  a  clear  conscience.  For  such  a  sin  I 
would  give  you  absolution  gladly." 


266  THE  BUBO OJf ASTER'S  WIFE. 

Ilcnrika  was  delighted  to  see  her  young  cousin 
again.  She  made  Nicolas  tell  her  of  her  father  and 
of  his  own  family,  and  how  he  himself  had  come  to 
Leyden.  When  she  learned  that  he  meant  to  set 
>3ut  on  his  return  within  an  hour,  preoccupied  as 
she  was  with  the  thought  of  Belotti's  mission,  a 
happy  idea  occurred  to  lier.  She  confided  her  pur- 
pose to  Nicolas,  and  implored  him  to  conduct  Be- 
lotti  in  safety  through  the  Spanish  lines  to  the 
Hague.  The  jonker  was  not  only  willing  to  do  so, 
but  promised  her  that  when  the  old  man  returned 
he  would  manage  in  some  way  to  let  her  know  of  it. 

At  the  end  of  an  hour  the  jonker  bade  her  fare- 
well, and  as  he  was  again  walking  along  the  Achter- 
gracht  Avith  II err  van  Warmond,  he  asked  the 
latter  : 

"  How  can  I  get  to  the  Beggars?" 

"  You  ?"  asked  the  captain  in  astonishment. 

"  Yes,  I,"  answered  the  lad  eagerly,  "  I  shall 
soon  be  seventeen,  and  as  soon  as  I  am —  Wait, 
only  wait :  you  shall  hear  of  me  yet." 

"  Well  done,  Nicolas,  well  done,"  returned  the 
other.  "  Let  us  remain  Holland  nobles  and  noble 
Hollanders  !" 

Three  hours  later  Jonker  Matenesse  rode  into  the 
Hague  with  Belotti,  of  whom  he  had  been  fond 
from  childhood.  lie  brourjht  his  father  nothinir 
but  a  carefully  folded  and  sealed  letter,  which 
Janus  Dousa  with  a  mischievous  smile  had  delivered 
to  him  on  behalf  of  the  citizens  of  Leyden  for  the 
Commander-in-chief  Yaldez,  and  which  contained 
the  lines  from  Dionysius  Cato,  written  in  a  delicate 
hand  on  a  great  sheet  of  paper  : 

"  J^istula  dulce  canit  volucrem  dum  decipit  ancepsP 

"  Sweet  are  the  tones  of  the  flute  when  the  fowler 
lures  the  bird  to  the  snare." 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  267 


CHAPTER   XXYII. 

The  first  week  in  June  and  the  half  of  the  sec- 
ond had  gone,  the  fine  sunny  days  had  come  to  an 
end,  and  in  the  evening  hours  many  guests  sought 
the  "  Anf-'ulus"  in  the  inn  on  the  Bvelte  ISirasse.  It 
was  very  cozy  there  when  the  wind  from  the  sea 
howled  without ;  the  rain  poured  down,  and  the 
water  fell  plashing  upon  the  pavement.  The  be- 
leaguering arm}^  encompassed  the  city  like  an  iron 
wail.  Men  regarded  each  other  as  fellow  prisoners, 
and  drew  more  closely  to  those  of  their  own  class 
and  opinions.  All  business  was  at  a  standstill ;  in- 
activity and  anxiety  weighed  like  lead  upon  the 
spirits  of  all ;  and  such  as  wished  to  relieve  their 
depression,  and  make  the  lagging  hours  pass  more 
quickl}^,  resorted  to  tlie  taverns  to  give  expression 
to  their  own  hopes  and  fears,  and  hear  what  others 
felt  and  thoughi  in  the  common  distress. 

All  the  tables  in  the  "  Angulus"  were  filled,  and 
any  one  who  wished  to  make  himself  heard  by  an 
acquaintance  seated  at  some  distance  was  forced  to 
raise  his  voice  very  considerably,  for  conversations 
were  being  carried  on  at  every  table.  There  were 
also  constant  calls  for  the  busy  barmaid,  glasses 
clinked,  and  pewter  covers  clashed  upon  tankards 
of  solid  stoneware. 

At  a  round  table  at  the  lower  end  of  the  long 
room,  the  talking  was  louder  than  at  any  other. 
Half  a  dozen  officers  had  found  seats  there,  and 
among  them  Georg  von  Dornburg.     Captain  van 


268  THE  BUROOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

der  Laen,  who  had  a  brilliant  career  behind  him, 
was  relating  in  a  loud  voice  his  various  experiences 
by  land  and  sea.  Colonel  Mulder  often  interrupted 
him,  after  some  story  that  seemed  liard  to  believe, 
and  recounted  with  an  air  of  self-satisfaction  some 
similar  but  utterly  impossible  adventure  of  his  own. 
Captain  van  Duivenvoorde  interposed  sootliin<;ly 
when  Yan  der  Laen.  who  was  conscious  of  never 
deviatint^  far  from  the  truth,  angrily  resented  the 
older  man's  jest.  Lieutenant  Cromwell,  a  grave 
man  with  a  round  head  and  long,  straight  hair,  who 
had  come  to  Holland  to  fight  for  the  Reformed 
faith,  mingled  but  seldom  in  the  conversation,  and 
then  Avith  a  few  scarcely  intelligible  worcls  in 
Dutch.  Georg  sat  leaning  far  back  in  his  chair,  his 
legs  stretched  out  before  him  and  his  eyes  gazing 
vacantly  into  space. 

Herr  Aquanus  went  from  one  table  to  another 
and  when  he  came  at  last  to  the  one  where  the 
officers  sat,  he  slopped  before  the  Thuringian  and 
said  : 

"Where  are  your  thoughts  straying,  jonker? 
One  would  scarcely  know  you  these  last  few  days. 
What  has  come  over  you  ?" 

Georg  sat  up  quickly,  stretched  himself  like  one 
roused  from  sleep,  and  answered  pleasantly  : 

"Idleness  sets  a  man  to  dreaming." 

"His  cage  here  is  growing  too  narrow  for  him," 
broke  in  Van  der  Laen.  "  If  things  go  on  like  this 
much  longer,  we  shall  all  have  the  staggers,  like 
sheep." 

"  And  we  shall  grow  as  stiff  as  the  brass  idol  over 
on  the  shelf  yonder,"  added  Colonel  Mulder, 

"  There  was  the  same  complaint  during  the  first 
siege."  answered  the  landlord,  "  but  Ilerr  von 
Noyelles  drowned  his  discontent  by  emptying  many 
a  cask  of  my  best  wine." 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  269 

"Tell  the  gentlemen  how  he  paid  you,"  cried 
Colonel  Mulder. 

"There  hangs  the  paper  framed  and  under  glass," 
said  Aquanus,  laughino-.  "  Instead  of  sending  me 
money,  he  wrote  me  this : 

"  '  Favors  many,  dear  friend,  bast  thou  done  me. 
For  which  good,  hard  coin  thou  gladly  wouldst  see, 
But  thou  wilt  find  none  in  my  pockets  ;  so  take  in  parting 

In  place  of  paltry  coins 

The  finely  written  lines. 
For  in  Leyden  paper  money's  to  be  had  for  the  asking.'  " 

"  Admirable  !"  cried  Jonker  van  Warmond,  "  and 
you  yourself  cut  the  die  for  the  paper  monej^" 

"  To  be  sure  !  Herr  von  ISToyelles'  idleness  cost 
me  dear.  But  this  time  you  have  already  made 
two  sallies." 

"  In  heaven's  name,  be  silent  about  the  first 
fiasco!"  cried  Van  Duivenvoorde.  "  A  well-planned 
undertaking  that  failed  miserably  because  the 
leader  lay  down  to  sleep  like  a  mole !  Was  ever 
such  a  thing  heard  of  before  f 

"  But  the  second  had  a  better  ending,"  said  the 
landlord.  "Three  hundred  hams,  a  hundred  casks 
of  beer,  butter,  ammunition,  and  added  to  that,  the 
most  despicable  of  all  spies ;  a  fine  booty  indeed." 

"  And  yet  it  was  a  faikire,"  cried  Captain  van  der 
Laen.  "  We  ought  to  have  intercepted  all  the  pro- 
vision ships  on  Leyden  Lake  and  brought  them  in ! 
And  the  Kaag  !  That  that  fine  fort  on  the  island 
should  be  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy  !" 

"  But  the  men  held  it  bravely,"  said  Yan  Duiven- 
voorde. 

"  True  dare  devils  there  were  among  them,  too," 
said  Van  der  Laen  with  a  laugh.  "  One  of  them 
struck  down  a  Spaniard,  and,  in  the  middle  of  the 


270  TUE  BURGOMASTER'S  ]VIFE. 

fitrht,  took  off  his  victim's  red  hose  and  drew  them 
on  his  own  legs." 

"I  know  the  man,"  added  the  host.  "Yan 
vKeulen  is  his  name.  There  he  sits  yonder,  over  his 
beer,  telling  his  companions  finmy  tales.  A  fellow 
with  a  face  like  a  satyr.  But  we  do  not  lack  con- 
solation. Think  of  Chevraux's  overthrow  and  the 
victory  of  the  Beggars  at  Vlissingen  on  the 
Scheldt." 

"  And  drink  to  Boisot,  the  brave  admiral,  and  the 
valiant  Beggar  troops  !"  cried  Captain  van  der  Laen, 
clinking  glasses  with  Colonel  Mulder.  The  latter 
turned  with  uplifted  glass  toward  the  Thuringian, 
and,  as  the  jonker,  who  had  relapsed  into  his  reverie, 
let  the  motion  pass  unheeded,  the  colonel  cried 
sharply  : 

'•  Come,  Ilerr  von  Dornburg,  you  take  your  time 
about  responding  to  a  pledge." 

Georg  started  up  and  answered  quickly  : 

"A  pledge?  Quite  right.  A  pledge.  I  pledge 
von,  colonel."  With  that,  he  raised  the  beaker, 
em})tied  it  at  a  single  draught,  and  placed  it  on  the 
table  again, 

"  Bravo !"  cried  the  colonel,  and  Herr  Aquanus 
said  : 

"  He  learned  that  at  the  university  ;  study  makes 
a  man  thirsty."  As  he  said  this,  he  cast  a  friendly 
but  troubled  glance  at  the  young  German,  Then  he 
looked  toward  the  door,  through  which  the  musician 
Wilhelm  had  just  entered.  The  host  advanced  to 
meet  him  and  whispered  : 

"  I  am  troubled  about  the  young  German  noble- 
man, lie  has  lost  all  his  gayety.  What  is  the  mat- 
ter with  iiim  V 

"  Homesickness,  no  news  from  his  family,  and 
the  snare  into  which  the  fortunes  of  war  have  led 
him  in  his  pursuit  of  fame  and  glory.  He  will  soon 
be  himself  again," 


THE  B URGOMASTER  'S  WIFE.  271 

"  I  hope  so,"  answered  the  host.  "  Such  a  healthy 
young  tree  quickly  rebounds  when  it  is  bent  to  the 
ground ;  give  the  fine  young  fellow  a  helping 
hand," 

Here  a  guest  called  to  the  landlord,  and  the 
musician  joined  the  officers  and  began  with  Georg 
a  low  conversation  that  was  drowned  by  the  loud 
confusion  of  voices. 

Wilhelm  had  come  from  the  Van  derWerff  house. 
He  had  learned  there  that  the  next  day  but  one,  the 
fourteenth  of  June,  would  be  the  burgomaster's 
birthday.  Adrian  had  told  Henrika  and  she  had 
told  him.  The  master  of  the  house  was  to  be  sur- 
prised with  a  song  on  the  morning  of  his  natal 
day. 

"  She  will  acquit  herself  admirably,"  interrupted 
Georg. 

"  She  will  not  be  alone  ;  we  can  also  count  upon 
the  burgomaster's  wife.  She  objected  strongly  at 
first,  but  when  I  proposed  a  pretty  madrigal,  she 
consented  to  take  the  soprano." 

"  The  soprano  ?"  asked  the  jonker  excitedly.  "  Of 
course  I  am  at  your  service.  Let  us  go ;  is  the 
music  at  your  house  ?" 

"  No,  Herr  von  Dornburg,  I  have  just  taken  it  to 
the  ladies  ;  but  to-morrow  morning  early " 

"  We  are  to  practice  early  to-morrow  morning? 
That  tankard  is  for  me,  Jungfer  Dortchen  !  Your 
health,  Colonel  Mulder.  Ca])tain  Duivenvoorde, 
here's  to  your  new  standard  and  to  many  aglorions 
ride  at  your  side." 

Tlie  young  German's  eyes  shone  once  more  with 
a  joyous  light,  and,  when  Captain  van  der  Laen 
went  on  with  what  he  was  saying,  he  exclaimed  : 
"  The  Beggars  of  the  Sea  will  yet  break  the  Spanish 
power.  Here's  to  the  sea,  gentlemen,  the  sea!  It 
is  best  to  leave  all  to  chance.     To  board  and  capture 


272  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

a  ship  by  storm  !  To  fight  man  to  man,  breast  to 
breast  on  the  decks  of  the  enemy's  ships!  To  fight 
and  conquer  or  go  down  with  the  foe  !" 
^  "To  your  health,  jonker!"  cried  tiie  colonel. 
'■'' Donner  und  Wetter/  we  have  need  of  such  young 
men !" 

"You  are  yourself  again,"  said  Willielm,  turning 
to  his  friend.     "  Drink  to  your  dear  ones  at  home." 

"  To  the  dear  ones  at  home  !"  cried  Georg.  "  To 
our  fair  mistress,  to  the  joys  and  sorrows  of  love ! 
War  is  joy,  love  is  life !  Let  the  wounds  bleed,  let 
the  hearts  break  into  a  thousand  pieces!  Laurels 
grow  on  the  battlefield,  love  weaves  garlands  of 
roses — roses  with  thorns,  but  roses  nevertheless  ! 
Away  with  you  !  No  one  shall  ever  drink  from 
you  again  !" 

With  flushed  cheeks,  Georg  flung  the  goblet  into 
one  corner  of  the  room,  where  it  crashed  into  frag- 
ments. His  companions  applauded  loudly,  but 
Lieutenant  Cromwell  arose  and  quietly  left  the 
room,  while  the  landlord  thoughtfully  shook  his 
wise  old  head. 

It  seemed  as  though  fire  had  been  poured  into 
Georg's  soul  and  his  spirit  had  gained  wings.  The 
heavy  locks  curled  in  disorder  about  his  handsome 
head,  as  leaning  far  back  in  his  chair,  with  doublet 
loosened,  he  joined  in  the  others'  sober  talk  with 
witty  sallies  and  brilliant  metaphors.  Wilhelm 
listened  half  admiringlv,  half  uncasilv.     A  newchvv 

CD    ^    ^  «  • 

had  long  since  dawned  when  the  musician  and  his 
friend  left  the  tavern.  Colonel  Mulder  looked  after 
the  young  German  and  cried  to  those  who  remained 
behind  : 

''  That  fellow  has  the  devil  in  him." 

The  following  morning,  while  the  burgomaster 
wSiS  presiding  over  a  meeting  at  the  Ilathhaus,  the 
practicing  of  the  madrigal  took  place.     Georg  stood 


TME  B  UROOMA STER  '8  WIFE.  2 73 


between  Maria  and  Henrika.     As  lono^  as,  the  musi- 

1  1 

Clan  had  errors  to  correct  and  repetitions  to  order, 
a  spirit  of  merriment  possessed  the  little  choir,  and 
more  than  once  Barbara,  in  the  adjoining  room, 
heard  sounds  of  innocent  laughter:  but  when  all 
had  mastered  their  parts  and  the  madrigal  was 
sung  without  an  error,  the  ladies  grew  more  and 
more  serious.  Maria  kept  her  gaze  fixed  upon  the 
music,  and  never  had  her  voice  sounded  so  fault- 
lessly pure,  so  full  of  feeling.  Georg  adapted  his 
singing  to  iiers  and  whenever  he  lifted  his  eyes  from 
the  notes,  they  rested  upon  her  face.  Henrika  con- 
stantly sought  to  attract  the  jonker's  glance,  but 
always  in  vain.  She  wished  to  divert  his  attention 
from  Maria  and  at  the  same  time  it  pained  her  to 
remain  unnoticed.  She  was  seized  with  an  impulse 
to  outdo  Maria,  and  the  whole  passionate  depth  of 
her  nature  sounded  in  her  voice.  Her  ardor  in- 
spired the  others.  Maria's  soprano  rang  out 
triumphantly  above  the  young  German's  musical 
tenor  and  Henrika's  deep  voice  took  up  the  strain 
with  fierce  exultation.  The  musician  rapturously 
beat  the  time,  and  carried  away  by  the  deep  pathos 
of  Henrika's  voice,  reveled  in  thoughts  of  her 
sister. 

When  the  serenade  had  ended,  he  cried  eagerh' : 
"  Once  more !"  The  rivalry  between  the  singeVs 
began  afresh  and  with  renewed  vigor,  and  this  time 
the  jonker's  burning  eyes  met  Maria's.  She  lowered 
her  music  suddenly,  stepped  out  of  the  half  circle, 
and  said  : 

'•  We  know  the  madrigal.  Come  to-morrow 
morning  early,  Meister  Wilhelm ;  my  time  is 
limited." 

''Ah!"  cried  the  musician  regretfully.  "You 
were  doing  so  well  and  there  were  only  a  few  more 
bars."  But  Maria  was  already  at  the  door  and 
answered  onl? : 


2  n  THE  B  UIIGOMASTER  'S  WIFE. 

"  Until  to-morrow." 

The  musician  enthusiastically  expressed  hisappre- 
ciaticm  of  Ilenrika's  singing;  Georg  politely  did  the 
«ame.  AVhen  both  had  taken  their  departure, 
Henrika  began  to  pace  the  room  with  rapid  steps 
and  struck  her  small  hands  })assionately  together. 

On  the  birthday  morning,  tlie  singers  were  ready 
betimes,  but  Peter  had  risen  before  sunrise  to  draw 
up,  with  Van  Hout's  aid,  a  motion  that  had  to  be 
completed  before  the  meeting  of  the  council. 
Nothing  lay  further  from  his  thoughts  than  his 
birthday,  and  when  the  trio  began  in  the  dining- 
room,  he  knocked  on  the  door  and  said  : 

"  We  are  busy.  Find  another  place  for  your 
singing." 

The  rendering  of  the  madrigal  was  interrupted  for 
a  moment  and  Barbara  cried  : 

"  People  don't  think  of  fishing-nets  when  they 
are  picking  apples.  He  has  forgotten  all  about 
his  birthday.     Send  the  children  in  to  him  first." 

The  burgomaster's  wife  entered  the  study  with 
Adrian  and  Lieschen,  They  cai'ried  nosegays  in 
their  hands  and  Maria  had  (h'essed  the  little  girl  so 
daintily  that,  in  her  white  frock,  she  looked  like  a 
veritable  little  elf. 

Peter  realized  now  what  the  singing  iiad  meant. 
He  warmly  drew  the  three  well-wishers  toward 
him,  and  when  the  madrigal  began  anew,  he  stood 
attentively  before  the  trio.  The  rendering  was 
not  half  as  successful  as  at  the  rehearsal,  for 
Maria  sang  in  a  low  and  muffled  voice,  and,  in 
spite  of  "VVilhelm's  energetic  beating  of  the  time,  the 
spirit  and  fervor  of  the  preceding  day  would  not 
return. 

"Excellent,  most  excellent,"  said  Peter  when  the 
singers  pauscMJ.  "  Well  conceived  and  executed  ;  a 
delighU'ul  birthday  surprise."     Then  he  shook  hands 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  275 

with  each  with  a  few  hearty  words,  and  as  he 
grasped  the  jonker's  right  hand,  he  said  warmly  : 
"  You  were  sent  us  from  the  skies  just  at  the 
right  moment,  A  home  in  a  strange  land  is 
always  something,  and  you  have  found  one  with 
us." 

Georg  had  cast  down  his  eyes,  but  at  the  last 
words  he  raised  them  again  and  fixed  them  upon  the 
burgomaster.  How  kindly  and  frankly  the  older 
man  looked  at  him !  A  great  emotion  overcame 
him,  and,  without  reflecting,  without  knowing  what 
he  did,  he  laid  his  hand  on  Peter's  arm  and  his  face 
upon  his  shoulder. 

Van  der  Werff  suffered  him  to  do  so,  stroked  the 
young  man's  hair,  and  said  with  a  smile  : 

"  Like  Leonhard,  wife,  just  like  our  Leonhard  ! 
AVe  shall  all  meet  again  tiiis  noon.  You,  too,  Van 
Hout,  and  do  not  forget  your  wife." 

Maria  arranged  the  seats  at  table  so  that  she 
would  not  have  to  look  at  Georg.  He  was  placed 
next  to  Frau  van  Hout  and  opposite  Henrika  and 
the  musician.  At  first  he  was  quiet  and  preoccupied. 
Henrika,  however,  gave  him  no  peace,  and  when  he 
had  once  begun  to  answer  her  questions,  he  was 
soon  carried  away  by  her  feverish  gayety  and  gave 
free  rein  to  his  wit.  Henrika  was  not  to  be  out- 
done, her  eyes  shone,  and  in  the  increasing  pleasure 
of  measuring  her  wit  with  his,  she  strove  to  surpass 
him  in  every  jest  and  every  retort.  She  drank  no 
wine,  but  she  was  soon  intoxicated  by  her  own  words 
and  monopolized  Georg  so  completely  that  he  had  no 
time  to  address  a  woi'd  to  the  other  guests.  Once 
when  he  tried  to  do  so  she  interrupted  him  quickly 
and  compelled  him  to  turn  to  her  again.  This  per- 
sistence annoyed  the  jonker,  and,  although  he 
struggled  against  it,  a  s])irit  of  wantonness  awakened 
within  him  and  he  began  to  provoke  Henrika  into 


276  THE  nURGOMASTEU^S  WIFE. 

making  unwarrantable  assertions  and  to  contradict 
tiiem  with  others  equall}^  unwarrantable. 

Maria  Hstened  to  Henrika  with  surprise,  and  there 
was  something  in  Georg's  bearing  toward  her 
friend  that  annoyed  her.  Peter  took  little  notice  of 
Henrika;  he  was  talking  with  Yan  Hout  about  the 
three  letters  that  had  been  received  from  Glippers, 
advising  the  surrender  of  the  city,  of  the  uncertain 
attitude  of  several  members  of  the  council,  and  the 
execution  of  the  captured  spy. 

Wilhelm,  to  whom  his  neighbor  had  scarcely 
vouchsafed  a  word,  was  now  following  the  conver- 
sation of  the  older  men  and  observed  that  he  had 
known  the  traitor.  He  was  an  innkeeper  in  whose 
tavern  he  had  once  met  Ilerr  Mantenesse  van 
AVibisma. 

"  Ah,  now  we  have  it,"  interrupted  Van  Hout. 
"  We  found  a  note  in  Quatgelat's  wallet  and  the 
writing  looked  suspiciously  like  the  baron's.  Quat- 
gelat  was  to  make  inquiries  as  to  the  amount  of 
])rovisions  in  Leyden." 

"  They  are  all  alike,"  cried  the  burgomaster.  "  He 
could  have  carried  only  too  welcome  news  to  Valdez, 
unfortunately.  The  investigation  has  brought  to 
light  little  that  is  cheering  ;  to  be  sure,  nothing  cer- 
tain has  been  ascertained  yet." 

"  We  ought  to  leave  that  to  the  women." 

"  The  women  V  asked  Peter  in  astonishment. 

"  Yes,  to  us,"  cried  Frau  van  Hout.  "  Why 
should  we  sit  idle,  when  we  can  be  of  use  ?" 

"  Intrust  the  work  to  us,"  cried  Maria.  "  We 
are  as  anxious  as  you  to  do  something  in  the  service 
of'the  great  cause." 

"  And  believe  me,"  added  Frau  van  Hout,  "  we 
shall  gain  admittance  to  storerooms  and  cellars 
much  more  readily  than  tlie  constables  and  guards, 
whom  the  housewives  fear." 


TEE  B  URG0MA8TER  'S  WIFE.  277 

"  Women  in  the  service  of  the  city,"  said  Peter 
thoughtfully.  "  To  be  frank — but  your  proposal  is 
worthy  of  consideration.  Fniulein  Henrika  is  in 
high  spirits  to-day." 

Maria  looked  indignantly  at  Henrika,  who  was 
leaning  far  across  the  table.  She  was  showing 
Georg  a  ring. 

"  Don't  you  wish  to  know  what  it  means,"  she 
exclaimed  with  a  laugh.  "Look,  a  snake  biting  its 
own  tail." 

"  Aha !"  returned  the  jonker,  "  the  symbol  of  self- 
torment." 

"•  Very  good  !  But  it  has  another  meaning,  too, 
and  you  would  do  well  to  take  note  of  it.  Sir 
Knight.  Do  you  know  the  meaning  of  eternity  and 
eternal  constancy  ?" 

"  No,  friiulein.  I  w^as  not  taught  at  Jena  to 
think  so  deeply." 

"Of  course;  your  teachers  were  men.  Men  and 
constancy — eternal  constancy  !" 

"  Was  Delilah,  who  betrayed  Samson  to  the 
Philistines,  a  man  or  a  woman?"  asked  Van  Hout, 

"  She  was  a  woman.  The  exception  that  proves 
the  rule.     Is  it  not  so,  Maria  ?" 

The  burgomaster's  wife  did  not  answer,  but  only 
nodded  silently  ;  then  she  impatiently  pushed  back 
her  chair,  and  the  meal  was  at  an  end. 


278  THE  BUmOMASTEU'S  WIFE. 


CHAPTER  XXYIII. 

Days  and  weeks  had  elapsed,  July  had  been  fol- 
lowed by  a  hot  August,  and  this,  too,  was  drawing 
to  a  close.  The  Spaniards  still  surroundetl  Leyden, 
and  the  city  was  now  altogether  like  a  prison.  The 
soldiers  and  armed  burghers  performed  their  duties 
wearily  and  listlessly  ;  at  the  Rathliaus  there  was 
enough  to  be  done,  but  the  work  of  tiie  authorities 
was  sad  and  disagreeable ;  for  no  encouiaging  mes- 
sage came  from  the  prince  or  the  Estates,  and  all 
that  was  to  be  discussed  was  relative  to  tiie  increas- 
ing distress  and  the  hideous  follower  of  war,  the 
plague,  which  made  its  entry  into  Leyden  hand-in- 
hand  with  starvation.  Moreover,  the  number  of  mal- 
contents increased  from  week  to  week  ;  the  partisans 
of  the  old  order  of  things  raised  tiieir  voices  more  and 
more  loudly,  and  many  a  friend  of  liberty,  who  saw 
his  dear  ones  pining  away,  joined  the  Spanish 
sympathizers,  and  demanded  the  surrender  of  the 
city.  The  children  went  to  school  and  assembled 
on  the  playgrounds  as  usual,  but  there  was  rarely 
a  sign  of  the  joyous  hilarity  of  former  days.  And 
what  had  become  of  the  boys'  red  cheeks  and  the 
plump  arms  of  the  litt\e  girls  ?  The  poor  drew  their 
belts  tighter,  and  the  bit  of  bread  that  was  appor- 
tioned to  each  by  the  city  no  longer  sufficed  to  still 
hunger  and  support  life. 

Jonker  Gcorg  had  been  living  for  a  long  tnne  in 
the  burgomaster's  house. 

On  the  morning  of  the  twenty-ninth  of  August 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  279 

he  was  returning  from  a  search  for  game ;  he  car- 
ried a  cross-bow  in  his  hand  and  a  bao^  shnie:  over 
liis  shoulder.  When  he  reached  the  house  he  did 
not  go  upstairs  at  once,  but  went  to  the  kitchen 
where  Barbara  was.  The  widow  received  him  with 
a  friendly  nod  ;  her  blue  eyes  were  as  bright  as 
ever,  but  her  round  face  had  grown  thinner,  and 
there  was  a  painful  quiver  about  the  sunken 
mouth. 

"  What  do  you  bring  to-day  ?"  she  asked  the 
jonker. 

Georg  felt  in  the  bag  answered,  smiling  : 

"  A  fat  snipe  and  four  larks  ;  you  know  already." 

"  Poor  sparrows  !  but  what  sort  of  a  creature  may 
this  be  ?  No  head,  no  legs,  and  carefully  picked. 
Jonker,  jonker,  it  looks  suspicious." 

"It  will  look  well  in  the  pan,  and  the  name 
matters  not." 

"But  it  does,  it  does;  no  one  knows  what  it  has 
fattened  upon,  and  the  good  Lord  did  not  make 
every  creature  for  the  human  stomach." 

"  1  have  already  told  you  what  it  is.  It  is  a  short- 
billed  snipe,  a  corvus,  a  real  corvus." 

"  Corvus  !  go  along  with  you  !  I  am  afraid  of  the 
creature.  The  feather  under  the  wing  there — 
Jesus  Maria  !     It  cannot  be  a  crow  ?" 

"  It  is  a  corvus,  as  I  have  told  you.  Put  the  bird 
in  vinegar  and  roast  it  with  some  herbs  and  it  will 
taste  like  a  real  snipe.  Wild  ducks  are  not  as  plen- 
tiful as  they  were,  and  the  sparrows  are  growing  as 
rare  as  roses  in  winter.  Every  boy  in  the  town  is 
on  the  outlook  with  bow  and  arrow,  and  in  the 
courtyards  people  are  trying  to  catch  them  with 
sieves  and  lime  twigs.  They  are  almost  extermi- 
nated, but  now  and  then  one  makes  its  escape.  How 
is  the  little  elf  ?" 

"  Don't  call  her  that !"  cried  the  widow.     "  Give 


iiSO  TUB  BUnOOM ASTER'S  WIFE. 

her  her  Christian  name.  She's  as  white  as  this 
cloth  and  yesterday  she  refused  the  milk  that  we 
have  procured  for  her  every  day  at  such  sacrilices. 
God  knows  how  it  will  end.  Look  at  tliat  cabbage- 
head.  Haifa  stiver!  And  that  miserable  bone. 
It  would  have  been  too  bad  to  give  to  a  dog  once — 
and  now!  The  whole  famil}^  must  be  satislied  with 
it.  For  supper  we  are  to  have  ham-rind  cooked  in 
wine  and  a  little  flummery  besides.  And  that  for  a 
giant  like  Peter!  AVhere  he  gets  his  strength,  God 
only  knows.  But  he  looks  like  a  shadow  of  him- 
self. Maria  needs  no  more  than  a  bird,  but  Adrian, 
poor  lad,  sometimes  leaves  the  table  in  tears,  and 
3'et  he  has  broken  many  a  bit  of  bread  from  his 
thin  slice  for  Lieschen  ;  I  know  it.  It  is  pitiful. 
And  yet  the  proberb  says :  '  Cut  3'^our  coat  ac- 
cording to  your  cloth' — '  Necessity  knows  no  law,' 
and  '  Waste  not,  want  not.'  Day  before  yesterday 
we  gave  again  of  what  we  still  possess.  To-morrow 
we  must  give  up  everything  over  and  above  what 
is  needed  for  the  next  two  weeks.  Peter  will  not 
let  us  keep  back  as  much  as  a  bag  of  meal,  and 
what  is  to  happen  then — merciful  Heaven  !"  The 
widow  sobbed  aloud  at  the  last  words  and  went  on 
tearfully  :  ''  And  where  do  you  get  your  strength  ? 
That  miserable  bit  of  meat  is  no  more  than  a  drop 
of  water  on  a  burning  stone,  to  one  of  your  age."" 

"  llerr  van  Aken  gives  me,  aside  from  my  ra- 
tions, what  he  can  spare  from  his.  I  shall  get 
through  all  right,  but  what  horrors  I  saw  to-day  at 
the  tailor's,  who  mends  my  clothes !" 

"Well?" 

"Two  of  his  children  have  died  of  hunger." 

"  And  at  the  weaver's  opposite,"  added  Barbara 
tearfully.  "  Such  respectable  people !  The  young 
wife  was  confined  four  davs  ago  and  this  mornino; 
mother  and  child  died  of  weakness-went  out,  I  tell 


THE  BURGOMASTEirS  WIFE.  281 

you,  like  a  candle  that  has  burned  down  and  must 
go  out.  At  the  cloth  maker  Petersohn's,  the  father 
and  all  five  children  have  died  of  the  plague.  And 
if  that  doesn't  wring  one's  lieart " 

"Stop!  stop!"  said  Georg,  shuddering.  "I  must 
go  to  the  courtyard  for  the  drill." 

"And  of  what  good  is  that?  The  Spaniards  will 
not  attack  us — they  will  leave  the  work  to  Grim 
Death.  Your  fencing  makes  the  men  hungry  and 
the  poor  empty  wretches  can  scarcely  move  their 
limbs." 

"  You  are  wrong,  mother,  wrong,"  answered 
Georg.  "  Tiie  exercise  and  motion  will  keep  them 
up.  When  Ilerr  von  Nordwyk  asked  me  to  drill 
them  in  the  place  of  the  dead  fencing-master,  he 
knew  what  he  was  about." 

"  You  are  thinking  of  the  plowshare  that  does 
not  rust.  Perhaps  you  are  right;  but  before  you 
go,  take  a  swaHow  of  wine.  We  still  have  plenty 
of  that.  If  the  men  have  something  to  do,  at  least 
they  will  not  mutiny  as  the  poor  fellows  among 
the  v^olunteers  did  day  before  yesterday.  Thank 
God,  they  are  gone  !" 

While  the  widow  was  filling  a  glass,  Wil helm's 
mother  entered  the  kitchen  and  greeted  Barbara 
and  the  jonker.  She  carried  a  small  bundle  under 
her  cloak  and  held  it  pressed  close  to  her  breast. 
Her  breadth  was  still  imposing  enough,  but  the 
stoutness  of  which  she  had  hitherto  been  so  proud 
seenled  to  have  become  a  burden. 

Taking  the  package  into  her  right  hand,  she 
said : 

"  Here  is  something  for  your  Lieschen.  My  Wil- 
lielm,  the  good  lad " 


Here  she  stopped  and  thrust  the  present  back 
into  its  old  place.  She  had  caught  sight  of  the 
jonker's  gift,  and  went  on  in  another  tone:  "But  I 


283  THE  B  UROOMA  STER  'S  WIFE. 

see  you  have  a  pigeon  already — so  much  the  bet- 
ter!    The   clerk   of   the   council's  little  one  is  also 
beginning    to    droop.     Until    to-morrow,    if    God 
,  wills." 

She  was  about  to  go,  but  the  jonker  held'  her 
back  and  said :  "  You  are  mistaken,  my  dear 
madam.  I  shot  that  bird  myself  to-dav,  and  1  admit 
now,  mother,"  turning  to  Barbara,  "  that  my  corvus 
is  a  miserable  crow." 

"Just  what  I  thought,"  cried  Barbara.  "Such 
a  horror !" 

Yet  she  touched  the  bird's  breast  with  her  finger 
and  said  thoughtfully :  "  There's  meat  on  the 
creature,  though." 

"  A  crow  !"  cried  the  collector's  wife,  clasping  her 
hands.  "  To  be  sure,  cats  and  dogs  are  already 
hanging  on  many  a  spit  and  have  wandered  into 
many  a  pan.     There  is  the  pigeon." 

Barbara  unwrapped  the  pigeon  as  carefully  as 
though  It  might  break  under  her  fingers  and  looked 
at  it  lovingly  as  she  weighed  it  in  her  hand.  The 
musician's  mother  continued : 

"  It  is  the  fourth  he  has  killed  and  he  says  it  was 
a  good  flyer.  lie  intended  it  especially  for  your 
Lieschen.  Stuff  it  nicely  with  yellow  paste,  not  too 
(irm  and  sweetened  a  trifle.  That  will  be  some- 
thing to  a  child's  taste.  Take  the  little  creature 
away.  When  one  has  known  a  thing  it  pains  one 
to  see  it  dead." 

"  God  will  reward  you  !"  cried  Barbara,  pressing 
the  good  woman's  hand.  "  Ah,  these  dreadful 
times  !" 

"  There  is  always  something  to  be  thankful 
for." 

"  To  be  sure,  it  must  be  very  much  worse  in  hell," 
answered  the  widow. 

"  Don't  be  sacrilegious,"  said  the  older  woman  re- 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  283 

provingly.  "  You  have  only  one  sick  person  in  the 
house.     Is  Frau  Maria  to  be  seen  ?" 

"She  is  in  the  workshops,  distributing  a  little  of 
our  meat  among  the  people.  Are  you  running 
short  of  meal?  Cows  are  still  to  be  seen  in  the 
meadows,  but  the  corn  seems  to  have  been  swept 
away;  there  isn't  a  |)ee!f  left  in  the  market.  Won't 
you  take  a  swallow  of  wine,  too,  neighbor?  Shall 
I  call  my  sister-in-law?" 

'*  I  will  look  for  her,  myself.  The  greed  of  the 
market  people  is  intolerable.  We  can  do  noth- 
ing more,  but  she  will  soon  bring  them  to 
reason." 

"The  market  people!"  exclaimed  the  jonker. 

"Yes,  Herr  von  Dornburg,  yes.  You  would  not 
believe  what  the  gentle  little  woman  can  do.  Day 
before  yesterday,  when  account  was  to  be  taken  of 
the  amount  of  provisions  in  every  house,  the  people 
received  the  other  ladies  and  me  very  sullenly,  and 
many  even  showed  us  the  door.  But  she  went  to 
the  rudest  of  them,  and  as  the  waves  of  the  sea 
opened  before  the  people  of  Israel,  the  storerooms 
and  cellars  opened  before  her.  How^  she  does 
it.  Heaven  knows,  but  the  people  cannot  resist 
her," 

Georg  drew  a  deep  breath  and  left  the  kitchen. 
In  the  courtyard  he  found  several  city  soldiers, 
volunteers,  and  members  of  the  burgher  guard, 
whom  he  was  to  drill  in  fencing.  Yan  der  Werff 
had  placed  his  courtyard  at  their  disposal,  and 
there  was  certainly  no  man  in  Leyden  who  could 
better  fill  the  place  of  the  brave  AUertssohn  than 
the  German. 

Barbara  had  not  been  wrong.  His  pupils  looked 
wasted  and  wretched  enougii,  but  many  of  them 
had  learned  in  the  dead  captain's  school  to  wield 
the  sword  skillfully,  and  their  hearts  were  in  their 
work. 


284  THE  B  UROOMA STER  '5  WIFE. 

In  the  middle  of  the  courtyard  was  placed  a 
figure  stuffed  with  tow  and  covered  with  leather, 
with  a  piece  of  red  pa]ier  in  the  shape  of  a  heart 
on  the  left  side.  At  this  tlie  most  unskilled  were 
^to  thrust  in  order  to  train  hand  and  eye  ;  the  others 
placed  themselves  opposite  each  other  in  couples 
and  fought  a  bloodless  battle  with  blunt  ra})iers, 
under  Georg's  direction. 

The  jonker  had  felt  very  weak  when  he  entered 
the  kitchen,  for  the  greater  part  of  his  ration  of 
bread  had  remained  with  the  tailor's  family  ;  but 
Barbara's  wine  had  done  him  good  and  he  pulled 
himself  together  and  advanced  briskly  toward  his 
pupils.  His  doublet  was  flung  upon  a  bench,  his 
belt  was  drawn  tighter,  and  he  soon  stood  before 
the  soldiers  in  his  white  shirt  sleeves. 

At  the  sound  of  his  first  command,  the  window 
in  Ilenrika's  room  was  drawn  sharply  to.  It  had 
usually  been  opened  when  the  exercises  began  and 
Henrika  had  not  hesitated  to  clap  her  hands  now  and 
then  and  to  call  out  a  "bravo."  But  this  was  some 
time  ago  ;  for  several  weeks  she  had  had  neither 
w^ord  nor  look  for  the  young  nobleman.  She  had 
never  made  such  advances  to  any  man  and  she  would 
not  have  troubled  herself  so  much  to  gain  a  prince's 
favor.  And  he  ?  He  had  treated  her  coolly  from 
the  first  and  had  avoided  her  more  and  more 
assiduously  as  time  w^ent  on.  Her  pride  was  deeply 
wounded.  Her  purpose  of  drawing  him  away  from 
Maria  had  long  since  been  forgotten,  and  moreover, 
something — she  knew  not  what — had  come  between 
her  and  tlie  burgomaster's  wife.  Not  a  day  passed 
but  what  she  met  the  jonker  and  she  rejoiced  in  it, 
because  she  could  show  him  that  she  was  indifferent 
to  his  presence,  that  it  was  even  distasteful  to  her. 
Her  imprisonment  weighed  heavily  upon  her,  she 
longed   unspeakably   for  the   open   air,   the  fields 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  285 

and  woods.  But  she  never  expressed  a  wish  to 
leave  Ley  den,  for — Georg  was  there,  and  her  mind 
was  full  of  him,  waking  or  dreaming.  She  loved 
him  one  dav,  detested  him  the  next,  and  both  with 
the  whole  passion  of  her  passionate  heart.  She 
thought  often  of  her  sister  also,  and  said  many 
prayers  for  her.  That  she  might  escape  ennui  and 
gain  the  favor  of  Heaven  through  good  works,  she 
helped  the  Gray  Nuns,  who  lived  in  a  little  old 
convent  near  the  Van  der  Werff  house,  to  tend  the 
sick  whom  the}'  had  tenderly  taken  in,  and  went 
with  Sister  Gonzaga  to  the  houses  of  the  Catholic 
burghers  to  collect  alms  for  the  little  hospitaL  But 
all  this  she  did  without  cheerful  self-surrender, 
sometimes  with  overmuch  zeal,  again  indifferently, 
and  for  days  not  at  all.  She  had  become  sensitive 
in  the  extreme,  and  when  she  had  been  haughty  to 
an  unbearable  degree  one  day,  she  would  be  sad 
and  depressed  the  next,  though  without  begging 
forgiveness  from  those  whom  she  had  wounded. 

She  was  now  standing  behind  the  closed  window, 
looking  at  Georg,  who  made  a  bold  lunge  at  the 
leather  figure  and  pierced  the  dummy's  red  heart. 

The  soldiers  gave  loud  expression  to  their  admira- 
tion. Ilenrilva's  eyes  also  had  kindled  with  ap- 
proval, but  they  suddenly  lost  their  brightness,  and 
she  stepped  back  into  the  room  as  Maria  came  out 
of  the  workshops  into  the  courtyard  and  passed  the 
combatants  with  downcast  eyes. 

The  young  woman  had  grown  paler,  but  her 
clear,  blue  eyes  had  gained  a  more  confident 
expression.  She  had  learned  to  rely  upon  herself 
and  had  soug-ht  and  found  arduous  duties  in  the 
service  of  the  city  and  of  the  poor.  She  had  come 
out  victorious  in  many  a  hard  contest  with  her 
heart,  but  the  struggle  was  not  yet  at  an  end ;  she 
was  conscious  of  this  whenever  Georg's  path  crossed 


286  TEE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

hers.  She  avoided  him  as  often  as  she  could,  for 
she  did  not  conceal  from  herself  tliat  an  attempt  to 
associate  with  him  as  with  a  friend  and  brother 
^woiild  be  the  lirst  step  toward  destruction  for  her 
and  for  him.  lie  helped  her  honestly  and  with 
stern  self-control.  She  was  grateful  for  it,  for  she 
and  lier  husband  stood  side  by  side  upon  the  ship  of 
life.  She  wislied  to  have  no  other  pilot;  nay,  the 
thought  of  perishing  with  him  had  no  terrors  for  her. 
And  yet,  and  yet!  Georg  was  the  loadstone 
mountain  that  drew  her  on  and  which  she  must 
avoid  if  she  wished  to  save  the  vessel  from 
destruction. 

That  day  she  had  been  questioning  the  different 
workmen  about  their  condition  and  had  listened  to 
tales  of  the  deepest  misery. 

The  brave  men  knew  that  the  surrender  of  the 
cit}''  might  put  an  end  to  their  sufferings,  but  they 
wished  to  hold  out  for  the  sake  of  freedom  and  their 
faith,  and  bore  tiieir  misery  as  an  unavoidable  mis- 
fortune. 

In  the  hall  Maria  came  upon  Wilhelm's  mother 
and  promised  her  to  consult  that  very  day  with  Frau 
van  Ilout  concerning  the  greed  of  the  market 
people.  Then  slie  betook  herself  to  poor  Lieschen, 
who  was  sitting,  pale  and  listless,  in  her  little  chair. 
Her  best  doll  had  been  lying  untouched  in  her  lap 
for  an  hour.  The  child's  tiny  hands  were  too  weak 
to  raise  the  toy.  Trautchen  brought  in  a  glass  of 
fresh  milk.  There  was  not  yet  an  utter  dearth  of 
milk,  for  a  goodly  number  of  cows  still  grazed  out- 
side the  city  walls,  under  shelter  of  the  cannon,  but 
the  chiUl  refused  to  drink  and  could  only  be  induced, 
with  tears,  to  swallow  a  few  drops. 

While  Maria  was  pleading  lovingly  with  the  little 
one,  Peter  entered  the  room.  This  man,  who  was 
the  ideal  of  a  stately  burgher,  and  who  had  always 


777^  BUROOMASTKR'S  WIFE.  287 

bestowed  much  care  upon  his  outward  appearance, 
now  looked  uncared  for.  His  brown  bair  bung 
down  over  bis  forebead,  the  thick,  closely  trimmed 
mustache  now  straggled  sparsely  over  bis  cheeks, 
the  doublet  had  grown  too  large,  and  the  hose  did 
not  set  smoothly  as  was  their  wont,  but  wrinkled  on 
bis  powerful  legs. 

He  greeted  bis  wife  with  a  careless  wave  of  the 
band,  approached  the  child  and  stood  gazing  at  her 
long  in  silence  and  with  deep  tenderness.  The  little 
one  turned  her  sweet  face  toward  him  and  tried  to 
welcome  him,  but  the  smile  died  on  her  lips  and  she 
looked  down  listlessly  at  the  doll  again.  He  bent 
dow^n  to  her,  lifted  her  up,  called  her  by  name,  and 
brushed  her  cheek  with  his  lips.  Tbecliild  touched 
bis  beard  lightly  and  then  said  faintly  : 

"  Let  me  down,  father,  I  am  dizzy  up  here." 

"With  moist  eyes  he  set  his  darling  carefully  in 
her  chair  again.  Then  be  left  the  room  and  returned 
to  his  study.  Maria  followed  him  and  asked : 
"  Nothing  yet  from  the  prince  or  the  Estates  ?" 

He  shrugged  his  shoulders  in  silence. 

"  But  they  will  not,  they  cannot  forget  us,"  cried 
Maria  vehemently. 

"  We  are  perishing  and  they  leave  us  to  die,"  be 
said  heavily. 

"  No,  no,  they  have  pierced  the  dykes  ;  they  will 
help  us,  I  know  it." 

"  When  it  is  too  late.  One  thing  keeps  piling 
upon  another,  misfortune  follows  misfortune ;  and 
upon  whom  fall  the  curses  of  the  starving  people  ? 
Upon  me,  me,  me  alone." 

"You  and  the  prince's  commissioner  stand  to- 
gether." 

Peter  smiled  bitterly  and  said  :  "  He  took  to  bis 
bed  yesterday.  The  pWue,  Bontius  says.  I,  I  alone, 
bear  the  whole  burden." 


288  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"  We  bear  it  with  you,"  cried  Maria.  "  First 
poverty  and  then  hunger,  as  we  promised." 

"  More  than  that.  The  hist  grain  of  wheat  was 
baked  to-da3\     Tliere  is  an  end  of  bread." 

"  We  still  have  cattle  and  horses." 

"  We  shall  come  to  them  day  after  to-morrow. 
It  was  decided  to-day :  two  pounds,  with  the  bones, 
for  every  four  persons.  Bread  gone,  cows  gone, 
milk  gone.  What  then?  What  will  become  of  the 
mothers,  the  infants,  and  the  sick  ?  And  our 
Lieschen  !" 

The  burgomaster  pressed  his  hands  to  his  temples 
and  groaned  aloud.  But  Maria  said  :  "  Courage, 
Peter,  courage.  Hold  fast  to  one  thing,  do  not  let 
one  thing  go — hope." 

"  Hope,  hope  !"  he  answered  scornfull3^ 

"  To  lose  hope  means  to  despair.  To  despair 
means  to  throw  open  the  gates,  to  open  the  gates 
means " 

"  Who  thinks  of  opening  the  gates?  Who  speaks 
of  surrender  ?"  he  interrupted  angrily.  "AVe  will 
still  stand  firm.  There  is  the  portfolio,  take  it  to 
the  messenger." 


TEE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  289 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

LiESCHEN  had  eaten  a  piece  of  roast  pigeon,  the 
first  morsel  she  had  tasted  for  several  days.  There 
was  as  much  rejoicing  in  the  Yan  der  Werff  house- 
hold as  though  some  great  good  fortune  had  come 
to  the  family.  Adrian  ran  to  the  workshops  and 
told  the  workmen,  Peter  walked  with  a  firmer  step 
to  the  Rathhaus,  and  Maria  took  it  upon  herself  to 
inform  the  collector's  wife  of  the  good  elfect  of  her 
son's  gift. 

The  tears  ran  down  the  old  woman's  flabbv 
cheeks  at  Maria's  recital.  She  kissed  the  burgo- 
master's wife  and  cried  : 

"  Ah,  Wilhelm,  Wilhehn !  If  he  were  only  at 
home  this  moment.  But  I  will  call  his  father. 
2£ein  Gott^  he  is  ]>robably  at  the  Rathhaus  too. 
What  (lid  I  hear  then?  Listen,  Frau  Maria,  listen 
— what  is  that  V 

The  ringing  of  bells  and  the  firing  of  cannon  had 
interrupted  the  old  woman's  speech ;  she  hurriedly 
flung  open  the  window  and  cried  : 

"  FruMi  the  tower  of  Pancratins !  It  is  not  an 
alarm.  Something  good  has  happened.  We  need 
it  indeed!  Ulrich,  TJlrich  !  Come  back  at  once 
and  bring  us  worci.  Dear  Father  in  heaven!  Dear 
Lord  !     Send  succor.     If  it  were  only  that!" 

The  women  waited  in  great  suspense.  At  last 
Wilhelm's  brother  Ulrich  returned  with  the  news 
that  the  messengers  who  had  been  sent  to  Delft 
had  made  their  way  back  through  the  Spanish  lines 


290  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE, 

and  had  brought  with  them  a  letter  from  the 
Estates.  The  clerk  of  the  council  had  read  it  aloud 
from  the  window  of  the  Rathhaus.  The  representa- 
tjves  of  the  country  praised  the  behavior  and  forti- 
tude of  the  burghers  and  informed  them  that  the 
dykes  had  been  pierced,  regardless  of  the  injui-y  in- 
flicted upon  thousands  of  farmers. 

Indeed  the  water  was  ah-cady  advancing  and  tlie 
messengers  themselves  had  seen  the  ships  that  were 
to  bring  relief  to  the  city.  The  country  surround- 
inor  Levden  must  soon  be  flooded  and  the  risino: 
waters  woukl  force  the  Spanish  to  retire.  "  Better 
a  ruined  than  a  lost  land,"  was  the  watchword  tliat 
had  be^n  decisive  in  the  carrying  out  of  these  ex- 
treme measures,  and  it  was  to  be  expected  tliat 
those  who  had  risked  so  much  would  shrink  from 
no  sacrifice  to  save  Leyden. 

The  two  women  shook  each  other  joyfully  by  the 
hand.  The  bells  continued  their  jubilant  clangor, 
and  report  after  report  of  cannon  resounded  through 
the  rattling  windows. 

When  night  began  to  fall  Maria  set  out  on  her 
homeward  way.  It  was  long  since  her  heart  had 
been  so  light.  The  black  placards  on  the  plague- 
stricken  houses  seemed  less  mournful,  the  wastetl 
faces  less  pitiable,  for  help  was  at  hand  for  them. 
Faithful  endurance  was  to  be  I'ewarded,  the  cause 
of  liberty  was  to  be  triumphant! 

She  turned  with  i-apid  steps  into  the  "Broad 
Street."  Thousands  of  bui'ghers  had  assembled 
there,  to  see,  to  hear,  and  to  learn  what  was  to  be 
hoped  or  what  was  still  to  be  feared.  At  the  cor- 
ners of  the  streets  musicians  were  stationed,  play- 
ing inspiriting  airs,  the  l](;ggars'  song  mingled  with 
the  sound  of  pipe  and  trumpet,  and  the  cheers  of 
enthusiastic  men.  But  there  were  crowds  of  well- 
dressed  peo])le,  men  and  women,  who  scoffed  aloud 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  291 

at  the  music,  and  the  simpletons  who  let  themselves 
be  duped  by  empty  promises.  Where  was  the 
succor  ?  What  could  the  handful  of  Beggars,  which 
the  prince  could  at  best  get  together,  do  against 
the  mighty  army  that  surrounded  Leyden  ?  And 
the  flooding  of  the  country  ?  The  city  lay  too  high 
for  the  water  ever  to  reach  it.  Tlie  farmers  had 
been  injured  without  helping  the  burghers.  There 
was  but  one  means  of  salvation  :  to  trust  to  the 
mercy  of  the  king. 

"  What  good  has  liberty  done  us  ?"  cried  a  brewer, 
who,  like  all  of  his  fraternity,  had  been  forced  to 
relinquish  his  grain  and  abandon  the  brewing  of 
fresh  beer.  "What  good  will  liberty  do  us  when 
we  are  dead  ?  Sensible  men  will  go  to  the  Rath- 
haus  and  demand  surrender  before  it  is  too  late." 

"  Surrender  !  The  clemency  of  the  king  !"  shouted 
some  twentv  burghers. 

"  Life  comes  first,  and  then  the  question  whether 
we  shall  be  independent  or  Spanish,  Calvinist  or 
Papist !"  cried  a  master-weaver.  "I  will  go  with 
you  to  the  Rathhaus." 

"You  are  in  the  right,  good  people,"  said  Burgo- 
master Baersdorp,  who,  wrapped  in  his  costly,  sable- 
trimmed  mantle,  had  approached  from  the  direction 
of  the  Rathhaus,  and  had  overheard  the  last  speak- 
er's words.  "But  be  advised!  To-day  the  credu- 
lous are  beginning  to  hope  again,  and  the  time  for 
making  your  just  demand  felt  is  badly  chosen. 
Wait  a  few  days,  and  then,  if  succor  does  not  come, 
present  your  petition.  I  will  speak  in  ^!our  behalf, 
and  with  me  many  good  men  in  the  council.  We 
have  nothing  but  kindness  and  gentleness  to  expect 
from  Yaldez.  To  rise  against  tiie  king  was  crimi- 
nal from  the  first.  To  fight  against  famine,  the 
plague,  and  death  is  madness  and  a  sin.  God  be 
with  you,  my  good  people." 


292  TUR  DURGOMASTEirS  WIFE. 

"  The  burgomaster  speaks  well,"  cried  a  clotb- 
dyer. 

"  Yan  Swieten  and  Norden  think  as  he  docs,  but 
Meister  Peter  rules  by  the  prince's  favor.  If  tlie 
Spaniards  rescue  us  his  neck  will  be  in  danger  when 
they  enter  the  city.  It  matters  not  who  dies,  so 
that  he  and  his  have  plenty  and  live  on  the  fat  of 
the  land." 

"  There  goes  his  wife,"  said  a  master-weaver, 
pointing  to  Maria.  "  How  happy  she  looks  !  The 
leather  business  must  be  doing  well.  Ileh,  Frau 
Biirgemeisterin !  Ileh!  My  compliments  to  your 
husband,  and  tell  him  that  his  life  may  be  valuable, 
but  ours  are  no  wisps  of  straw,  either." 

"  Tell  him  further,"  shouted  a  cattle-dealer,  Avho 
seemed  not  to  have  suffered  much  as  yet  from  the 
prevailing  misery,  "  tell  him  the  more  cattle  he  kills 
the  better,  but  Leyden  burghers " 

The  cattle-dealer  did  not  bring  his  speech  to  an 
end,  for  Herr  Aquanus  had  seen  from  the  Angulus 
what  was  passing,  and  had  stepped  into  the  street 
and  forced  his  way  into  the  midst  of  the  malcontents. 

"  For  shame  !"  he  cried.  "To  attack  an  honora 
ble  woman  in  the  streets  !  Is  this  the  way  of  Ley- 
den burghers?  Give  me  your  hand,  Frau  Maria, 
and  if  I  hear  another  angry  word  I  will  summon 
the  constables.  I  know  you  !  Near  the  Blue  Stone 
still  stands  the  gallows  that  Herr  van  Bronkhorst 
has  had  erected  for  such  as  you.  Which  of  you 
wishes  to  make  the  first  trial  of  it?" 

The  men  to  whom  these  words  were  addressed 
were  not  of  the  bravest,  and  not  a  word  was  spoken 
aloud  as  Aquanus  conducted  Maria  to  the  tavern. 
The  landlord's  wife  and  dau<i:hter  received  her  in 
their  apartments,  which  were  sepai'ated  from  the 
public  rooms,  and  begged  hor  to  accept  their  liospi- 
talitv  until    the  crowd  had   dispersed.     But   Maria 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  293 

was  anxious  to  return  home,  and  when  she  said  that 
she  must  go,  Aquanus  offered  her  his  escort. 

Georix  von  Dornburo^  Avas  standing;  in  the  hall 
as  they  passed  and  he  drew  back  with  a  respectful 
salutation,  but  the  landlord  called  to  him  and  said  : 

"  I  shall  have  much  to  do  to-day,  for  many  a 
man  will  treat  himself  to  a  glass  of  wine  after  the 
good  news.  You  wdl  excuse  me,  Frau  Biirgemeis- 
terin,  but  the  jonker  will  see  you  home  as  safely  as 
I  could — and  you,  Herr  von  Dornburg " 

"  I  am  at  your  service,''  answe»'ed  Georg,  and 
accompanied  Maria  into  the  street. 

Both  walked  on  in  silence  for  a  time  and  it  seemed 
to  both  as  though  they  could  hear  the  beating  of 
each  other's  hearts.  At  last  the  jonker  drew  a  long 
breath  and  said : 

"  Three  long  months  have  elapsed  since  I  came. 
Have  I  been  good,  Maria  ?" 

"  Yes,  Georg." 

"But  you  cannot  guess  what  it  has  cost  me  to 
keep  my  heart  within  bounds,  to  curb  my  tongue, 
and  blind  my  eyes.  1  must  say  it  once,  Maria, 
once " 

"  iiever,  never,"  she  interrupted  pleadingly.  "  I 
know  that  you  have  struggled  honestly  ;  do  not 
spoil  your  victory  now," 

"  Listen  to  me,  Maria ;  only  this  once,  listen  to 
me !" 

"  What  will  it  avail  you  to  torture  me  with  pas- 
sionate words?  I  can  hear  words  of  love  from  but 
one  man,  and  what  I  cannot  hear,  you  must  not  say 
to  me." 

"  JSTo  ?"  he  asked  reproachfully,  and  then  went  on 
heavily  and  bitterly  :  "  You  are  right,  entirelv  right. 
Even  speech  is  denied  me.  M}^  life  must  flow  on 
like  a  leaden  stream  and  all  that  grows  and  blos- 
soms on  its  banks  must  remain  scentless  and  color- 


294  TnE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

less.  The  golden  sunlight  has  hidden  itself  behind 
clouds,  all  joy  has  died  within  me  and  all  that 
once  delighted  me  has  become  stale  and  lost  its 
^  charm.  Do  you  recognize  the  jovial  young  lellow 
of  former  3' ears?" 

"  Try  to  recover  your  cheerfulness  ;  try,  for  ray 
sake." 

"  It  is  gone,  gone,"  he  murmured  sadly.  "  You 
saw  rae  in  Delft,  but  you  never  really  knew  me. 
These  eyes  were  like  two  magic  mirrors  in  which 
every  object  is  transformed.  This  heart  then  em- 
braced the  whole  world,  and  how  quickly  and  joy- 
ously it  beat !  Often  I  could  not  contain  myself 
for  very  happiness,  and  it  seemed  as  though  I  must 
fly  to  pieces  like  a  rifle  barrel  that  is  overcharged. 
I  felt  it  time  and  time  again  at  Delft  when  you  were 
kind  to  rae.  And  now,  now  ?  I  still  have  wings,  I 
still  might  fly,  but  here  I  crawl  along  like  a  snail — 
for  it  is  your  wish." 

"  It  is  not  my  wish,"  answered  Maria.  "  You  are 
dear  to  me,  I  may  admit  so  much — and  it  saddens 
me  to  see  you  so.  But  now — if  you  care  for  me,  and 
I  know  that  you  do — cease  to  torture  me  so  cruelly. 
You  are  dear  to  me.  I  have  said  so,  and  it  must  be 
said  so,  that  all  may  be  made  clear  between  us.  You 
are  dear  to  me  like  the  vanished  days  of  ray  child- 
hood, like  a  blissful  dreara,  like  a  beautiful  song  in 
which  we  delight  and  which  refreshes  our  souls 
when  we  hear  it  or  remember  it — but  you  are  no 
more  to  me  than  that  and  can  never  be.  You 
are  dear  to  me  and  I  wish  you  to  renuiin  so,  and 
you  can,  if  you  do  not  break  the  vow  that  you  have 
made." 

"  Vow  ?"  asked  Georg.     '•  Yow  ?" 

"  Yes,  vow,"  answered  Maria,  slackening  her 
steps,  "  which  you  made  on  Peter's  breast — on  his 
birthday  morning,  after  the  song.     You  remember ! 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  295 

You  registered  a  silent  vow ;  I  know  it,  I  know 
it  no  less  surely  than  that  I  vowed  fidelity  to 
my  husband  at  the  altar.     If  you  can  deny  it,  do  so." 

Georg  shook  his  head  and  answered  with  increas- 
ing vehemence: 

"  You  can  read  my  very  soul.  Our  hearts  knew 
each  other  like  two  faithful  friends,  as  the  earth 
knows  her  moon  and  the  moon  her  earth.  What 
is  one  without  the  other  ?  Why  should  they  be 
separated  ?  Have  you  ever  walked  along  a  forest 
road  ?  The  tracks  of  two  Avheels  run  side  by  side 
but  never  touch.  The  axle  keeps  them  apart  as  our 
vows  keep  us." 

"  Say  rather,  our  honor." 

"As  our  honor.  But  in  the  forest  one  often 
comes  upon  a  place  where  the  road  ends  at  a  char- 
coal-kiln or  a  clearing,  and  there  the  tracks  intersect 
each  other,  and  in  this  hour  1  feel  that  my  path 
has  come  to  an  end.  I  cannot  go  any  further,  or 
the  horses  will  plunge  madly  into  the  thicket  and 
the  carriage  be  dashed  to  atoms  against  rocks  and 
stones." 

"  And  with  it  honor.  Not  another  word.  Let 
us  walk  more  quickly.  See  the  lights  in  the  win- 
dows. All  wish  to  show  their  joy  at  the  good  news, 
nor  must  our  house  remain  in  darkness." 

"  Do  not  hurry  so.  Barbara  will  see  to  it,  and 
think  how  soon  we  must  part.  But  you  said  that  1 
vras  dear  to  you." 

"  Do  not  torture  me !"  cried  the  young  wife 
imploringly. 

"I  do  not  wish  to  torture  you,  Maria,  but  you 
must  listen  to  me.  I  was  in  eai-nest,  in  deadly 
earnest  when  I  took  that  silent  vow,  and  I  have 
sought  to  free  myself  from  it  by  death.  You  have 
heard  how  I  rushed  like  a  madman  upon  the 
Spaniards  in  the  storming  of  the  Boschhuizen  forti- 


296  TUE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

fications,  in  July.  Your  token,  the  blue  n'I>lH.M 
you  gave  me  in  Delft,  fluttered  from  my  shoulder 
as  I  dashed  upon  the  swords  and  lances.  "  But  1  was 
not  to  (lie  and  came  out  unharmed.  ()ii,  ]\laria, 
for  the  sake  of  this  vow,  I  have  borne  unheard-of 
tortures.  Absolve  me  from  it,  let  tell  you  once 
fj'eely,  only  once " 

"Stop,  Georg,  stop,"  implored  Maria.  "I  will 
not,  must  not  hear  you — neither  to-day  nor  to- 
morrow— never,  never,  throughout  all  eternit3^" 

"Once,  only  once,  I  will  tell  you  that  I  love  you, 
that  I  would  give  up  my  life  and  happiness,  peace 
and  honor " 

"Not  another  word,  Jonker  von  Dor n burg. 
There  is  our  house.  You  are  our  guest  and  if  you 
speak  another  such  word  to  the  wife  of  your 
friend " 

"  Maria,  Maria — oh,  do  not  raise  the  knocker. 
How  can  3'ou  heartlessly  destroy  a  man's  whole 
happiness " 

The  door  had  opened  and  the  burgomaster's  wife 
crossed  the  threshold.  Georg  stood  opposite 
her,  and,  stretching  out  his  hand  beseechingly,  said  : 

"  You  abandon  me  to  despair  and  death  !  Maria, 
Maria,  whv  do  vou  ti'eat  me  so?" 

She  placed  her  hand  in  his  and  said  : 

"That  we  may  remain  worthy  of  each  other, 
Georg." 

Then  drawing  her  cold  hand  forcibly  away,  she 
entered  the  house :  he,  however,  wandered  for 
hours,  like  a  drunken  man,  through  the  lighted 
streets,  and  flung  himself  at  last  with  burning  head 
upon  his  couch.  On  the  table  beside  the  bed  lay  a 
small,  loosely  bound  book.  lie  seized  it  and  began 
to  write  with  trembling  lingei's.  The  pen  often 
hesitated,  and  the  writer,  sighing  heavily,  stared 
vacantly  into  space.  At  last  he  tossed  the  book 
aside  and  restlessly  awaited  the  approach  of  dawn. 


THE  B UBG OMAS'l 'EB  '8  WIFE.  29 1 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Shortly  after  sunrise,  Georg  sprang  from  his 
couch,  drew  out  his  knapsack,  and  tilled  it  with  his 
few  belongings.  The  book  alone  was  not  placed 
with  the  other  articles. 

In  the  early  morning,  Wilhelm  entered  the  court- 
yard as  the  first  workmen  were  on  their  way  to  the 
workshops.  The  jonker  saw  him  coming  and  met 
him  at  the  door. 

The  musician's  face  bore  but  slight  evidences  of 
the  w^ant  that  all  hands  endured,  but  his  entire 
person  trembled  with  excitement  and  he  changed 
color  from  moment  to  moment  as  he  breathlessly 
told  Georg  the  object  of  his  early  visit. 

Shortly  after  the  arrival  of  the  messengers  from 
the  Estates,  a  Spanish  envoy  had  brought  letters  to 
Burgomaster  van  der  Werff,  One  of  the  letters 
was  from  Jonker  Nicolas  van  Wibisma  and  con- 
tained the  news  that  Ilenrika's  sister  had 
reached  Leyderdorp  with  Belotti  and  had  found 
shelter  in  the  farmhouse  of  the  elder  Freiherr  van 
Wibisma.  She  was  very  ill  and  longed  to  see  her 
sister.  The  burgomaster  had  delivered  this  letter  to 
Henrika  and  Ilenrika  had  hastened  at  once  to 
Wilhelm  to  request  him  to  help  her  out  of  the  city 
and  to  accompany  her  to  the  Spanish  lines. 
Wilhelm  was  undergoing  a  hard  struggle.  No 
sacrifice  seemed  too  great  to  enable  him  to  see 
Anna  again  and  what  the  messengers  had  succeeded 
in  doing,  he  also  might  do.     But  could  he  abet  the 


398  TEE  BURQOMA  STEWS  WIFE. 

flight  of  the  young  girl  held  as  a  hostage  by  the 
council,  deceive  the  guards,  desert  his  post? 

tSince  Ilenrika's  recjuest  that  Georg  should  escort 
her  sister  from  Luirano  to  Holland,  the  vounff  Ger- 
man  had  been  informed  of  the  hitter's  history  and 
was  also  aware  of  the  state  of  Wilhelm's  heart. 

"  I  must,  and  3'et  I  cannot,"  cried  AVilhelra.  "  I 
have  passed  a  dreadful  night.  Imagine  yourself  in. 
my  position,  imagine  yourself  in  the  friiulein's." 

"  Obtain  leave  until  to-morrow,'-  said  Georg  de- 
cidedly. "  As  soon  as  it  is  dark  I  will  accompany 
you  and  Ilenrika.  She  must  swear  to  return  to  the 
city  if  it  should  come  to  a  surrender.  As  for  me,  I 
am  no  longer  bound  by  oath  to  the  English  stand- 
ard. A  month  ago  we  were  given  the  option  of 
entering  the  service  of  the  Netherlands.  All  that 
is  needed  is  a  word  to  Captain  van  der  Laen  and  I 
am  my  own  master." 

"  Thank  you,  thank  you  ;  but  the  fraulein  for- 
bade my  asking  for  vour  assistance." 

"Nonsense!  I  shall  go  with  you  and  when  we 
have  reached  our  destination,  I  shall  make  my  way 
to  the  Beggars.  The  council  will  not  be  sorry  for 
our  departure,  for  there  will  be  two  mouths  the  less 
in  Leyden,  when  Henrika  and  I  are  gone.  The  sk}'' 
is  gray  ;  we  shall  have  a  dark  night,  I  hope.  Cap- 
tain van  Duivenvoorde  is  in  charge  of  the  watch 
at  the  Ilohenort  Gate.  He  knows  us  both  and  will 
let  us  through.  I  will  speak  with  him.  Is  the 
farmhouse  in  the  village?" 

"  No,  some  distance  outside,  on  the  road  to  Ley- 
den." 

"  Well,  then,  we  will  meet  again  at  the  inn  at 
four." 

"  But  the  fraulein " 

"  It  will  be  time  enough  when  she  learns  out- 
side the  gate  who  is  to  accompany  her." 


TEE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  299 

When  Georg  arrived  at  the  inn  at  the  appointed 
hour,  he  learned  that  Henrika  had  received  another 
letter  from  Nicolas.  It  had  been  given  to  the  out- 
posts by  the  jonker  himself  and  contained  only  the 
words:  "Until  midnight,  the  Spanish  watchword 
is  '  Lepanto?  Your  father  shall  learn  to-day  that 
Anna  is  here," 

When  the  departure  from  the  Hohenort  Gate 
had  been  arranged  for  nine  o'clock,  Georg  went  to 
Captain  van  der  Laen  and  Commandant  van  der 
Does  and  recived  from  the  former  the  desired  dis- 
charge and  from  Janus  a  letter  to  his  frieml, 
Admiral  Boisot.  When  he  announced  to  his  men 
that  he  meant  to  leave  the  city  and  join  the  Beg- 
gars, they  declared  that  they  were  ready  to  follow 
him  and  to  live  and  die  with  him.  It  was  with 
difficulty  that  he  was  able  to  restrain  them.  As  he 
passed  the  liathhaus,  he  slackened  his  steps.  The 
burgomaster  was  always  to  be  found  there  at  that 
hour.  Should  ho  leave  the  city  without  bidding 
him  farewell  %  No,  no !  And  yet — since  yesterday 
he  had  forfeited  the  right  to  look  him  frankly  in 
the  eye.  He  shrank  from  meeting  him  and  it 
seemed  to  him  as  though  they  were  wholly  estranged. 
So  Georg  hurried  by  the  Rathhaus  and  thought 
defiantly  :  "  What  if  I  do  part  from  him  without  a 
farewell  ?  I  am  indebted  to  him  for  nothing,  for  I 
shall  have  to  pay  for  his  kindness  with  suffering, 
perhaps  with  death.  Maria  loved  me  before  she 
loved  him,  and  what  she  is  to  me  and  was  and  will 
be,  she  sliall  know  before  I  go." 

At  dusk  he  returned  to  his  room,  ordered  the 
man-servant  to  carry  his  knapsack  to  Captain  van 
Duivenvoorde  at  the  guardroom  at  the  Hohenort 
Gate,  and  then,  with  the  little  book  thrust  into  his 
doublet,  repaired  to  the  other  part  of  the  house,  to 
take  leave  of  Maria. 


300  THE  BURGOMASTER '8  WIFE. 

He  walked  falteringly  up  the  stairs  and  paused 
in  the  upper  hall. 

The  throbbing  of  his  heart  took  away  his  breath. 
He  did  not  know  at  which  door  to  knock  and  a 
^  torturing  fear  overcame  him.  For  several  moments 
he  stood  like  one  paralyjicd,  then  he  roused  himself, 
gave  himself  a  shake,  and  murmured:  "You  have 
turned  coward."  He  opened  the  dcor  that  led  to 
the  dining  room,  and  entered.  Adrian  was  sitting 
at  the  empty  table,  studying  by  the  light  of  a  pine 
torch.     Georg  inquired  for  his  mother. 

"  She  is  probably  spinning  in  her  room,"  answered 
the  lad. 

"  Call  her;  I  have  something  important  to  say  to 
her." 

Adrian  left  the  room  and  returned  with  the  mes- 
sage that  the  jonker  should  wait  in    his  father's 

study. 

"  Where  is  Barbara?"  asked  Georg. 

"With  Lieschen." 

The  German  nodded,  and  as  he  paced  to  and  fro 
beside  the  table,  he  thought :  "  1  cannot  go  like 
this!  I  must  unburden  my  heart.  I  must  hear 
once,  only  once  that  she  loves  me— I  must — I  must. 
It  may  be  dishonorable,  it  may  be  despicable.  I 
will  atone  for  it ;  I  will  atone  for  it  with  my  life." 

AVhile  the  jonker  was  pacing  the  room,  Adrian 
gathered  his  books  together  and  exclaimed: 
"  B-r-r-r,  jonker,  how  you  look  to-day !  You 
frighten  one.  Mother  is*^  already  in  the  study.  I 
hear  the  rattling  of  the  tinder-box ;  she  is  probably 
lighting  the  candles." 

"  Are  you  busy  ?"  asked  Georg. 

"I  have  finished." 

"Then  run  to  Wilhelm  Corneliussohn's  and  tell 
him  that  we  shall  meet  at  nine,  at  nine  punctually, 
as  was  arranged." 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  301 

"  At  the  inn  ?"  asked  the  boy. 

"  No,  no,  he  knows  already  ;  hurry,  youngster." 

Adrian  was  about  to  go,  but  Georg  beckoned  to 
him  and  asked  in  a  low  voice : 

"Can  you  keep  silent?" 

"  As  a  fried  sole." 

"I  am  to  leave  the  city  to-night  and  may  never 
return." 

"  You,  jonker  ?     To-night  ?"  asked  the  boy. 

"  Yes,  my  dear  lad.  Come  here  and  give  me  a 
farewell  kiss.  You  shall  keep  this  ring  as  a  re- 
minder of  me." 

The  lad  submitted  to  the  kiss,  placed  the  ring 
upon  his  linger,  and  asked  w^ith  tearful  eyes  :  "  Are 
you  in  earnest  ?  Ah,  yes,  the  famine  !  I  would  go 
with  you  if  it  were  not  for  Lieschen  and  mother. 
When  will  you  come  back  ?" 

"  Who  can  tell,  my  lad  ?  Think  of  me  kindly,  do 
you  hear?     Kindly  !     And  now  go." 

Adrian  rushed  down  the  stairs,  and  a  few 
moments  later  the  jonker  was  standing  before 
Maria  in  Peter's  room.  The  blinds  were  closed 
and  the  candelabrum  on  the  table  held  two  lighted 
candles. 

"  Thank  you,  thank  you  a  thousand  times  for 
coming,"  said  Georg.  '•  You  pronounced  my  sen- 
tence yesterday  and  to-day " 

"  I  know^  what  brings  you  here,"  she  answered 
gently.  "Ilenrikahas  bidden  me  farewell  and  I 
ought  not  to  keep  her  back.  She  does  not  wish 
you  to  accompany  her,  but  Meister  Wilhelm  has 
told  me  alb     You  have  come  to  say  good-by.'  ' 

"  Yes,  Maria,  good-by  forever." 

"If  God  wills,  we  shall  see  each  other  again.  I 
know  what  drives  you  away  from  here.  You  are 
good,  noble,  Georg,  and  if  anything  can  lessen  the 
pain  of  parting,  it  is   this :  we  can   think  of   each 


302  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 


other  without  grief  or  resentment.     You  will  not 
forget  us  and — as  you  know — your  memory  will  be 
cherished  in  the  hearts  of  all  here." 
^     "  And  in  yours  too,  Maria?" 

"In  mine  too." 

"Hold  fast  to  it!  And  when  the  storm  has 
swept  from  your  path  the  poor  dust  that  to-day 
lives  and  breathes,  loves  and  despairs,  grant  it  a 
place  in  your  memory." 

Maria  "^shuddered,  for  he  looked  at  her  with  a 
somber  gh^ani  of  })ro found  despair  in  his  eyes,  and, 
seized  with  keen  apprehension,  she  cried:  "What 
are  you  thinking  of,  Georg — for  Christ's  sake,  what 
are  3'ou  thinking  of  V 

"Nothing  wrong,  Maria,  nothing  wrong,"  he 
answered  dully,  "AH  men  are  not  alike,  lie  who 
can  exist  wnth  sluggish  blood  from  one  decade  to 
another  in  peace  and  honor  is  a  fortunate  man. 
My  blood  runs  in  a  more  rapid  course.  And  what 
my  eager  soul  has  once  clasped  with  its  polypean 
arms,  it  does  not  relinquish  until  its  death-knell 
sounds.  I  am  going.  I  shall  not  return  ;  but  you 
and  my  love  I  shall  take  with  me  into  battle,  into 
the  grave.    1  go " 

"  Not  like  this,  Georg ;  you  must  not  go  like 
this." 

"  Then  say  :  '  Stay  !'  Then  say :  '  Here  I  am,  and 
I  pity  you.''  But  do  not  encourage  the  poor  wretch 
whom  you  have  blinded  to  open  iiis  e\'es  and  delight 
in  the  beauties  of  creation.  There  you  stand  trem- 
bling and  quivering,  and  you  have  no  word  for  him 
wiio  loves  you,  for  him — him " 

The  young  man's  voice  was  choked  by  his  deep 
emotion,  and,  sighing  heavily,  he  pressed  his  hand 
to  his  forehead.  Then  he  seemed  to  recollect  him- 
self, and  went  on  sadly  :  "  Here  I  stand  to  tell  you 
one  last  time  what  is  in  mv  heart.     You  should  hear 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  303 

sweet  words,  but  pain  and  sorrow  would  be  mingled 
with  all  that  I  could  say.  Take  this  book.  When- 
ever my  heart  dictated,  I  wrote  in  verse  that  for 
whicli  harsh  prose  has  no  expression.  Read  these 
pages,  Maria,  and  if  they  awaken  an  echo  in  your 
heart,  keep  them.  The  honeysuckle  in  your  garden 
needs  a  support  that  it  may  grow  and  put  forth 
flowers  ;  let  these  ])oor  verses  be  the  prop  about 
which  your  memory  of  me  may  entwine  its  tendrils 
and  cling  lovingl3^  Read,  and  then  say  once  more  : 
'You  are  dear  to  me,'  or  send  me  from  you." 

"  Give  them  to  me,*'  said  Maria,  and  she  opened 
the  book  with  a  tlirobbing  heart. 

He  stepped  back  from  her,  but  his  breath  came 
fast,  and  his  eyes  followed  her  as  she  read. 

She  began  with  the  last  poem  but  one.  It  had 
been  written  the  previous  day,  shortly  after  Georg's 
return. 

"  FrOhlich  Ziehen  sie  dahin, 
Lichter  strahlen  (lurch  die  Scheiben, 
Und  die  Strassen  aiif  und  ab 
Woght  eiii  vielgeschaft'ges  Treiben. 
O,  der  froheii  Festesnacht; 
Wenn's  doch  evvig  also  bliebe! 
Ewig!  ewig?    Arme  Pracht! 
Kiirzes  Leuchten,  arme  Liebe." 

The  last  poem  Georg  had  written  with  flying 
pen  the  night  before.  He  bemoaned  therein  his 
sad  lot.  She  must  listen  to  him  once,  once,  and 
then  he  would  sing  her  an  unequaled  song.  She 
had  glanced  over  the  lirst  lines  in  silence,  but  then 
her  lips  began  to  move,  and  she  read  rapidly  and  in 
a  low  but  audible  voice : 

"  Bald  sollt'  es  touen  wie  dcs  Donners  Schallen, 
Bald  sauft  und  flotend  durch  die  Mainacht  wallen. 
Bald  wiird's  zum  Himmel  jubelfroh  getragen 
Und  schluchzen  bald  wie  Philomelens  Klagen. 


304  1  HE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

Und  dieses  Lied,  es  konnte  nie  verklingen, 
Zum  Olir  dcr  ganzen  Menschhoit  niiisst'  es  dringen 
Zur  tiefsten  Ilolile.  in  die  dunklcii  Grlifte, 
Zum  Aethermeer  hoch  uberm  Keicli  der  Liifte, 
V       AlliiberuU  wiird'  dann  meiii  Sang  vernoninien, 

Die  Scbopfung  lauschte  sehnsuclilsvoU  bekloramen 

Und  stimmte  ein  in  vollen  Jnbelchoren 

Und  bate  Dich,  den  Sanger  zu  ei-horen. 

Und  ob  der  Epheu  langst  mein  Grab  umschlange, 

Sie  toiien  fort  die  slissen  Zauberkliinge, 

In  aller  Welt,  durcli  alle  Erdenzonen, 

Gewaltig  von  Aeonen  zur  Aeoneu!" 

Her  heart  beat  faster  as  she  read  and  her  breath 
carae  more  and  more  rapidly,  and  when  she  reached 
the  last  lines,  tears  were  in  her  e3^es  and  she  raised 
the  book  in  both  hands  to  fling  it  aside  and  to 
throw  her  arms  about  the  writer's  neck. 

He  had  been  standing  spellbound  before  her, 
listening  rapturously  to  the  noble  flight  of  his  own 
w^ords.  Trembling  with  passion,  he  mastered  him- 
self until  she  had  flnished,  until  her  eyes  were  lifted 
from  his  verses,  and  she  had  raised  the  book  high 
in  the  air,  then  his  self-control  fled  to  the  winds 
and,  beside  himself,  he  cried:  "Maria,  sweet,  in- 
comparable woman !" 

"•  Woman !  Wife  ?"  echoed  like  a  w^arning  cry 
within  her  and  an  icy  hand  seemed  to  clutch  at  her 
heart.  The  delirium  vanished,  and  wlicn  she  saw 
him  standing  before  her  with  glowing  eyes  and 
outstretched  arms,  she  recoiled,  and  an  intense  hor- 
ror of  him  and  of  her  own  weakness  seized  her,  and, 
instead  of  flinging  aside  the  book  and  running 
toward  him,  she  tore  it  into  two  pieces  and  said 
proudly  :  "  Here  are  your  verses,  Jonker  von  Dorn- 
burg ;  take  them  with  you."  Then,  maintaining 
her  dignity  with  an  effort,  she  continueil  more 
gently:  "  1  shall  remember  you  without  this  book. 
We  have  both  been  dreaming ;  let  us  come  to  our 


TSE  jBVROOMASTER'S  WIPE.  305 

senses  now.  Farewell !  I  shall  pray  God  to  pro- 
tect you.  Give  me  your  hand,  Georg,  and,  when 
you  return,  we  will  bid  you  welcome  to  our  house 
as  a  friend." 

With  that  Maria  turned  away  from  the  jonker 
and  only  nodded  silently,  when  he  called  after  her  : 
*  Is  it  all,  ail  over  2" 


306  :  THE  B  UBOOMASTER  '6  WIFE. 


CHAPTEE  XXXI. 

Georg  went  down  the  stairs  like  one  stunned. 
He  had  in  his  hand  both  halves  of  the  book  in 
wiiich  he  had  written  a  collection  of  poems  to 
Maria  from  the  time  of  the  wedding  in  Delft. 

The  firelight  from  the  kitchen  illuminated  the 
hall.  He  followed  the  light,  and,  before  answering 
Barbara's  friendly  greeting,  he  approached  the 
hearth  and  tossed  the  pages  into  the  flames. 

"  Oho,  jonker  !"  cried  the  widow.  "A  quick  fire 
is  not  suited  to  every  dish.  What  are  you 
burning  ?" 

"  Senseless  paper,"  he  answered.  "  Don't  be 
uneasy.  At  best  it  might  weep  and  extinguish  the 
flames.  It  will  be  asbes  directly.  Tiiere  go  the 
sparks  in  orderly  rows  through  the  black,  charred 
pages.  How  pretty  it  looks  !  They  come  and  go 
— like  the  torches  of  a  funeral  procession  on  a  dark 
night.  Sleep  well,  poor  children — sleep  well,  dear 
verses.  Look,  mother  !  See  them  rolling  up  tightly, 
convulsively,  as  though  it  hurt  them  to  burn." 

"  What  nonsensical  talk  I"  interrupted  Barbara, 
pushing  the  charred  book  into  the  fire  with  the 
tongs,  and,  pointing  to  her  own  forehead,  she  con- 
tinued warningly  :  "  You  make  a  body  afraid  for 
you  at  times.  Lofty  words  like  those  in  the  Psalms 
are  not  for  a  kitchen  and  everyday  life.  H  you 
belonged  to  me,  1  should  give  you  a  piece  of  my 
mind  now  and  then.  A  steady  gait  brings  one 
soonest  to  the  goal." 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFF..  307 

"  A  good  piece  of  advice  for  a  traveler,"  answered 
Georg,  holding  out  his  hand  to  the  widow.  "Good- 
by,  good  mother.  I  can  stand  it  here  no  longer. 
In  half  an  hour  I  shall  have  turned  my  back  upon 
this  good  city." 

"Nonsense!  how  can  you?  Or  is  the  friiulein 
going  to  take  you  in  tow  ?  A  nobleman's  son  and 
a  nobleman's  daughter!  Birds  of  a  feather — but 
no ;  there  has  been  nothing  between  you  two.  She 
is  good  at  heart,  but  I  should  wish  you  some  other 
wife  than  that  Papist  weather  vane." 

"  Then  Henrika  has  told  you " 

"She  has  just  gone.  Mein  Gott — she  has  rela- 
tions outside  and  we — it  is  hard  to  divide  a  plum 
into  tw^elve  pieces !  I  bade  her  godspeed  cheerfully  ; 
but  you,  Georg,  you " 

"  I  am  to  escort  her  out  of  the  city  and  then — 
you  will  not  blame  me — then  I  shall  make  my  way 
to  the  Beggars." 

"  To  the  Beggars!  That  is  quite  another  thing, 
that  is  right  of  you!  You  will  be  in  your  element 
there !  Be  of  good  heart,  jonker,  and  go  forth 
boldly.  Give  me  your  hand,  and  if  3'ou  meet  my 
boy — he  is  in  command  of  a  ship  of  his  own  —  Ifein 
Gott,  I  have  an  idea !  You  can  wait  a  moment 
longer.  Trautchen,  come  here.  Upstairs  in  the 
painted  chest  are  the  woolen  stockings  that  I  have 
knitted  for  him.  Be  quick  and  bring  them !  He 
may  have  use  for  them  on  the  water  in  this  damp 
fall  weather.     You  shall  take  them  with  you." 

"  Willingly,  most  willingly,  and  let  me  thank  you 
too  for  your  kindness.  You  have  been  like  a 
mother  to  me."  Georg  took  the  wadow's  hand  in 
his  and  neither  attempted  to  conceal  the  affection 
they  had  come  to  feel  for  each  other,  and  their 
sorrow  at  parting.  Trautchen  had  placed  the 
woolen  stockings  in  Barbara's  hand  and  while  the 


;308  THE  nVROOMASTER'S  WTFE. 

latter  was  saying  the  last  good-by  to  the  jonker, 
many  tears  fell  upon  them.  When  Barbara  saw 
that  they  were  already  wet  before  the  first  rain, 
she  shook  them  in  the  air  and  gave  them  to  the 
jcxnker. 

The  night  was  dark  but  still,  sultry  indeed.  The 
travelers  were  received  at  the  llohenort  Gate  by 
Herr  van  Duivenvoorde.  An  old  sergeant  went 
before  him  with  a  lantern  and  opened  the  gate. 
Tlie  captain  embraced  his  comrade,  a  few  words  of 
farewell  and  godspeed  echoed  from  the  walls,  and 
the  three  were  in  the  open. 

For  a  time  they  walked  in  silence  through  the 
gloom.  Wilhelm  knew  the  way  and  walked  ahead 
of  the  friiuleiii ;  tlie  jonker  kept  close  at  her  side. 

All  was  still,  save  for  the  sound  of  a  command 
from  the  walls,  the  striking  of  a  clock,  or  the  bark- 
ino^  of  a  doo;  from  time  to  time. 

Henrika  had  recognized  Georg  in  the  light  of  the 
lantern,  and,  when  Wilhelm  stopped  to  see  whether 
there  was  water  in  the  ditch  across  which  he 
intended  to  lead  his  companions,  she  said  in  a  low 
voice : 

"  I  had  not  counted  upon  your  escort,  jonker." 

"I  know  it,  but  I  too  wished  to  leave  the  city." 

"  And  wished  to  avail  3'ourself  of  our  knowledge 
of  the  password.     Stay  with  us  then." 

"Until  1  know  you  to  be  in  safety,  friiulein." 

"  The  walls  of  Leyden  already  lie  between  you 
and  the  danger  from  which  you  are  fleeing." 

"  I  do  not  understand  you." 

"  So  much  the  better." 

Wilhehn  turned  and  in  a  low  voice  besought  his 
companions  to  keep  silent.  They  went  on  without 
a  word  until,  close  by  the  camp,  they  reached  the 
highroad,  around  which  they  had  made  a  circuit. 

A  Spanish  sentinel  challenged  them. 


TEE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  309 

"  Lepantor  was  the  answer. 

They  continued  their  way  undisturbed  through 
the  midst  of  the  camp.  A  four-horse  coach,  a  box 
hung  between  two  diminutive  front  wheels  and  a 
])air  of  monster  hind  wheels,  drove  slowly  past 
them.  It  was  conveying  back  to  the  Hague  the 
daughter  of  a  prominent  Netherland  official,  Mag- 
dalena  Moons,  who  had  been  paying  a  visit  to  her 
adorer  and  afterward  husband,  the  commander-in- 
chief,  Yaldez.  Ilenrika  attracted  no  attention,  for 
there  were  plenty  of  women  in  the  camp.  A  few 
poverty-stricken  creatures  were  seated  before  the 
tents,  mending  the  soldiers'  clothes.  In  front  of  an 
officer's  tent  some  gaudily  dressed  wenches  were 
drinkino;  wine  and  throwing  dice  with  their  com- 
panions.  Behind  the  commander's  tent  shone  a 
brighter  light.  Here,  under  an  awning,  were 
placed  a  number  of  confessionals  and  an  altar. 
Upon  the  latter  candles  were  burning  and  above  it 
hung  a  silv^er  lamp.  Around  it  pressed  a  dark  and 
motionless  throng  —  Castilian  warriors,  some  of 
whom  could  be  recognized  when  f  he  lamp  or  candle- 
light touched  their  helmets  or  coats  of  mail. 

The  loud  carousing  of  German  mercenaries,  the 
neighing  and  stamping  of  horses,  the  laughter  of 
the  officers  and  women  drowned  the  low  chanting 
of  the  priests  and  the  murmur  of  those  who  were 
praying  and  confessing;  but  the  sharp  tinkle  of  the 
bell  calling  to  mass  rose  from  time  to  time  with 
sharp  insistence  above  the  uproar  of  the  camp. 
Close  by  Leyderdorp  the  password  again  proved 
effectual  and  they  reached  the  first  houses  un- 
molested. 

"  Here  we  are,"  said  "VVilhelm,  drawing  a  long 
breath.  "Take  advantage  of  the  night,  jonker,  to 
leave  the  Spaniards  far  behind  you." 

"  No,  my  friend  :  you  are  still  here  and  I  wish  to 


3 10  THE  B  U ROOM  A  STER  'S  WIFE. 

sliare  3^011  r  danger.  I  shall  return  to  Leyden  witli 
you  and  then  try  to  make  my  way  to  Deift;  in  the 
meantime  I  will  remain  ou  watch  below,  so  as  to 
warn  you  if  need  be." 

"  "  Let  us  part  here,  Georg  ;  it  may  be  hours  before 
I  return." 

"  I  have  time  enough— too  much  time.  I  will  wait. 
The  door  is  being  opened." 

The  jonker  laid  his  hand  on  his  sword,  but  his 
grasp  soon  relaxed,  for  it  was  Belotti  who  advanced 
toward  them  and  saluted  the  signorina. 

Henrika  followed  him  into  the  house  and  con- 
versed with  him  in  a  low  tone  until  Georg  addressed 
her. 

"  Friiulein  van  Hoogstraten,  I  would  ask  for  a 
short  godspeed." 

''Farewell,  Ilerr  von  Dornburg,"  she  answered 
coldly,  advancing  a  step  toward  him. 

Georg  also  stepped  forward  and  held  out  his 
hand.  She  hesitated  an  instant,  then  placed  hers  in 
it  and  said  in  so  low  a  tone  that  he  alone  could  hear 
her : 

"  Do  3^ou  love  Maria  ?" 

"  I  am  to  confess  then  ?" 

"  Do  not  refuse  my  last  request  as  you  did  my 
first.  If  you  can  be  magnanimous,  answer  without 
hesitation.  I  will  betray  your  secret  to  no  one.  Do 
you  love  Frau  van  der  Werff  ?" 

"  Yes,  f raulein." 

Henrika  drew  a  long  breath  and  then  asked  : 
"  And  you  are  going  out  into  the  world  in  order  to 
forget  her?" 

"  No,  friiulein." 

"  Then  tell  me  why  you  have  fled  from  Ley- 
den." 

"  To  seek  an  end  worthy  of  a  soldier." 
She   came  (piite  close  to  iiim  and  cried  so  scorn- 
fully that  it  cut  Georg  to  the  heart: 


THE  BUROOM ASTER' 8  WIFE.  311 

"  You  too,  then  !  It  seizes  all :  knights,  maidens, 
wives,  and  widows  ;  it  spares  none.  There  is  no  end 
to  the  misery.  Farewell,  Georg.  We  ma\'  hi  ugh  at 
each  other  or  pity  each  other,  just  as  the  fancy  lakes 
us.  A  heart  pierced  with  seven  swords  :  what  a 
delightful  picture  !  Let  us  wear  blood-red  knots  in- 
stead of  green  and  blue !  Give  me  your  hand  once 
more,  and  now,  God  go  with  you  !" 

Ilenrika  beckoned  to  the  musician  and  both  fol- 
lowed Belotti  up  the  steep,  narrow  stairs.  AVilhelm 
remained  behind  in  a  small  room.  This  adjoined  a 
second,  where  a  handsome  three-year-old  boy  was 
waiting  with  an  old  Italian  nurse.  In  a  third  room, 
which  like  all  the  others  in  the  farmhouse  was  so  low 
that  a  tall  man  could  not  stand  upright,  lay  Ilen- 
rika's  sister,  on  a  wide  bedstead,  above  which  a 
screen,  resembling  a  flat  canopy,  was  supported  by 
four  small  columns.  Pine  torches  dimly  lighted  the 
long,  low  room.  The  ruddy  light  of  their  broad 
flames  was  lost  under  the  canopy,  rendering  the 
sufferer's  face  scarcely  recognizable. 

Ilenrika  had  given  but  a  luirried  greeting  to  the 
child  and  the  nurse  in  the  second  room.  She  burst 
into  the  third  with  violent  haste,  ran  to  the  bed, 
dropped  upon  her  knees,  threw  her  arras  passionately 
about  her  sister,  and  covered  her  face  with  burning 
kisses. 

She  said  nothing  but  "  Anna "  and  the  sufferer 
found  no  other  word  than  "Henrika."  Minutes 
passed.  Then  the  girl  sprang  up,  seized  one  of  the 
burnino:  torches,  and  let  the  light  fall  upon  her 
sister's  face.  How  pale,  how  wasted  it  was  I  But  it 
was  still  beautiful,  still  as  it  used  to  be.  A  strange 
mingling  of  joy  and  pain  lilled  Ilenrika's  soul. 
What  had  been  cold  and  hard  in  her  grew  warm 
again  and  melted,  and  the  relief  of  tears  so  long 
denied  her  I'eturned  to  her  in  this  hour. 


312  TUE  EURO OM ASTER'S  WIFE. 

Little  by  little  the  flood  of  feeling  began  to  ebb 
and  the  confused  and  broken  words  of  endearment 
resolved  themselves  into  questions  and  answers. 
When  Anna  learned  that  the  musician  had  accom- 
vpanied  her  sister,  she  expressed  a  wish  to  see  him, 
and,  as  he  entered,  she  stretched  out  both  hands  to 
him  and  cried  : 

"  Meister,  meister,  in  what  a  condition  do  you 
find  me!  See,  Henrika,  this  is  the  best  of  men  ;  the 
only  disinterested  friend  I  have  found  in  the  world." 

The  hours  that  followed  were  tilled  with  painful 
emotions. 

Belotti  and  the  old  Italian  woman  often  under- 
took to  speak  for  the  sufferer  and  gradually  unfolded 
before  Henrika  and  AVilhelm  the  picture  of  a  life 
shamefully  ruined  and  worthy  of  a  better  fate. 
Anxiety,  care,  and  agonizing  doubt  had  from  the 
first  saddened  Anna's  life  with  the  unscrupulous 
gambler  and  adventurer  who  had  succeeded  in 
ensnaring  her  inexperienced  young  heart.  A  brief 
period  of  intoxication  was  followed  by  a  hideous 
awakening.  Shortly  after  the  birth  of  her  child,  Don 
Luis  demanded  that  she  should  accompany  him  to 
the  house  of  a  marchesa  of  ill  repute,  in  whose  no- 
torious gambling-rooms  he  had  spent  his  evenings 
and  nights  for  months.  She  had  angrily  refused  to 
comply  wnth  his  command,  but  he  had  coolly  and 
threateningly  persisted  in  his  will.  Then  thelloog- 
straten  blood  made  itself  felt  and  she  fled  secretly 
with  her  child  to  Lugano.  There  the  bov  had  been 
received  by  her  mother's  former  waitin<»-maid;  she, 
however,  had  gone  to  Home,  not  as  an  adventuress, 
but  with  a  fixed  and  worth}'  ])urpose  in  view.  She 
wished  to  develop  her  musical  gifts  to  the  full  in 
the  new  schools  of  Palestrina  and  Nanini  and  enable 
herself  to  make  her  child  inde])en(lent  of  his  father 
and  of  her  people,  who  had  cast  her  off.     She  was 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  313 

risking  much,  but  she  had  very  positive  hopes  in 
view,  for  an  eminent  prelate  and  lover  of  music,  to 
whom  she  had  had  letters  of  introduction  fi-om 
Brussels,  and  who  was  familiar  with  her  voice,  had 
promised  upon  her  return  from  Rome  to  give  her 
the  position  of  instructor  in  singing  to  the  young- 
ladies  of  noble  birth  who  were  being  educated  in  a 
convent  at  Milan.  This  convent  was  under  his 
supervision,  and  the  worthy  man  took  care  to 
provide  Anna  with  letters  to  his  friends  in  the 
eternal  city. 

Her  sudden  departure  from  Rome  had  been 
caused  by  the  news  that  Don  Luis  had  found  his 
son  and  had  carried  him  off.  She  could  not  lose 
her  child,  and,  as  she  did  not  find  him  in  Milan,  she 
followed  him  and  finally  found  him  in  Naples. 
There  D'Avila  gave  her  back  her  child  after  she  had 
consented  to  make  over  to  him  the  income  which 
she  still  received  from  her  aunt.  The  long  journey, 
full  of  anxieties  and  difficulties,  had  exhausted  her 
strength,  and,  sick  and  broken,  she  returned  to 
Milan. 

Her  patron  had  taken  care  to  keep  the  position 
of  singing-teacher  open  for  her,  but  she  could  only 
fill  it  for  a  short  tii:ie,  for  her  illness  increased  and 
a  distressing  cough  ruined  her  voice.  She  turned 
once  more  to  Lugano  and  tried  there  bv  the  sale  of 
her  jewels  to  indemnify  her  honest  friends,  but  the 
time  soon  came  when  she  was  forced  to  live  upon 
the  charity  of  a  servant.  Until  the  last  six  months 
she  had  not  suffered  actual  want,  but  when  her 
benefactors  husband  died,  there  arose  the  anxiety 
about  their  daily  bread,  and  a  mother's  love  broke 
down  Anna's  pride;  she  wrote  to  her  father  as  a  re- 
pentant and  heartbroivcn  daughter,  but  she  received 
no  answer.  At  last,  when  starvation  was  staring 
her  and  her  child  in  the  face,  the  sick  woman  took 


3 14  THE  B  UROOMASTER  'S  WIFE. 

upon  herself  tlie  hardest  task  of  all  and  implored 
the  man  whom  she  coukl  now  regard  with  nothing 
but  loathing  and  contempt  not  to  let  his  own  son 
grow  up  like  a  beggar's  child.  The  letter  contain- 
"•  ing  this  cry  of  despair  had  reached  Don  Luis  in 
Plolland,  shortly  before  his  death.  There  was  no 
help  to  come  from  him.  liut  JBelotti  appeared  and 
now  she  was  in  her  native  land  again,  her  friend 
and  her  sister  were  standing  at  her  bedside,  and 
Ilenrika  encouraged  her  to  hope  for  her  fathers 
forgiveness. 

Midnight  was  past  and  Georg  was  still  waiting 
for  his  friend's  return.  The  noise  and  bustle  of 
the  camp  were  beginning  to  subside,  and  the  lantern, 
which  from  the  first  had  but  feebly  lighted  the 
broad  lower  room  of  the  farmhouse,  was  flickering 
more  feebly  still.  The  German  shared  the  room 
with  farming  implements,  harnesses,  and  heaped-up 
stores  of  grain  and  vegetables,  but  he  lacked  the 
inclination  to  cast  even  a  glance  at  his  bizarre  sur- 
roundings. There  was  nothing  cheering  for  hira  in 
the  present  or  in  the  future.  He  felt  humiliated, 
guilty,  weary  of  life.  His  self-respect  lay  in  the 
dust,  love  and  happiness  were  lost  by  his  own  folly, 
before  him  lay  nothing  but  a  colorless  and  jo3dess 
future  full  of  bitterness  and  torment.  He  wished 
for  nothing  but  a  speedy  death.  In  the  midst  of 
this  rose  the  ])leasant  ])icture  of  his  home — but  it 
vanished  as  soon  as  he  remembered  the  dignified 
figure  of  the  burgomaster,  his  own  weakness,  and 
the  repulse  he  had  received.  He  was  filled  with 
violent  anger  against  himself  and  he  longed  with 
passionate  impatience  for  the  clash  of  swords  ami 
the  roar  of  cannon,  for  desperate  struggle  man  to 
man. 

The  time  slipped  by  and  he  did  not  notice  it,  but 
a  torturing  desire  for  food  began  to  torment  the 


THE  BUROOMjiSTEirS  WIFE.  315 

hungry  man.  Turnips  there  were  in  plenty  piled 
against  the  walls,  and  he  devoured  one  after  another 
until  he  felt  the  long  unknown  sensation  of  satiety. 
Tiien  he  seated  himself  on  a  kneading-trough  and 
meditated  as  to  how  he  was  to  make  his  way  to  the 
Beo-gars.  He  was  unfamiliar  with  the  road,  but 
woe  to  those  who  ventured  to  interfere  with  him. 
His  arm  and  his  sword  were  good  and  there  were 
Spaniards  enough  near  at  hand  who  might  feel  both. 
He  began  to  gvow  imjiatient,  and  it  was  a  welcome 
distraction  when  he  heard  steps  aj)proach  and  saw 
a  man's  hgure  entering  the  house.  lie  had  stationed 
himself  against  the  wall,  his  sword  resting  in  his 
crossed  arms,  and  challenged  the  late-comer  with  a 
loud  "halt." 

The  latter  drew  his  sword  at  once,  and,  when 
Georg  asked  him  authoritatively  what  he  sought 
there,  he  answered  in  a  boyish,  but  proud  and  un- 
daunted voice : 

"I  would  ask  you  that!  lam  in  my  father's 
house." 

"  Indeed  !"  smilingly  answered  the  German,  who 
in  the  feeble  light  of  the  lantern  had  recognized  the 
speaker's  hgui-e.  "  Put  up  your  sword  again.  If 
you  are  young  JMatenesse  van  Wibisma,  you  have 
nothing  to  fear  from  me."' 

"  I  am  he.  But  what  are  you  doing  at  night  on 
our  property  with  yonr  sword  under  your  arm  ?" 

"  I  am  warming  the  wall  for  my  own  pleasure, 
or,  if  you  wish  to  hear  the  truth,  I  am  keeping 
watch." 

"  In  our  house  ?" 

"  Yes,  Ilerr  Jonker.  There  is  one  upstairs  with 
your  cousin  who  would  not  wish  to  be  surprised  by 
a  Spaniard.  Go  up  without  hesitation.  I  have 
heard  from  Captain  van  Duivenvoorde  what  a 
valiant  lad  you  are." 


316  THE  BURG OMASTEirS  WIFE. 

"  From  Herr  van  AVarraond  ?"  asked  Nicolas  ex- 
citedly. "  Tell  me  :  what  brings  you  here  and  who 
may  you  be  ?" 

"  One  who  is   fighting  for  your  freedom— a  Ger- 
^raan,  Georg  von  Dornburg." 

"Then  please  wait  here.  I  shall  l)o  hack  in  a 
moment.  Do  you  know  whether  Friiuiein  van 
Hoogstraten " 

"  She  is  up  there,"  answered  Georg,  pointing  to 
the  stairs. 

Nicolas  sprang  up  the  staircase,  called  his  cousin, 
and  told  her  hurriedly  that  her  father  had  had  a 
severe  fall  from  his  horse  while  hunting  and  was 
lying  ill.  He  had  flown  into  a  violent  passion  when 
Kicolas  had  spoken  of  Anna,  but  shortly  after  he 
had  voluntarily^  requested  Nicolas  to  tell  him  about 
her  and  had  attempted  to  leave  his  bed  and  accom- 
pany him.  He  had  succeeded  in  rising,  but  had 
fallen  back  fainting  upon  the  couch.  When  his 
father  came  early  the  next  morning,  Nicolas  went 
on,  she  was  to  tell  him  that  he  begged  his  for- 
giveness: he  was  about  to  do  what  he  considered 
his  duty. 

He  avoided  Henrika's  questions  and  only  inquired 
hurriedly  as  to  Anna's  condition  and  about  the 
Leydener  of  whom  Georg  had  spoken. 

When  he  heard  Wilhelm's  name,  he  begged  Hen- 
rika  to  warn  him  to  start  as  soon  as  possible  and  in 
his  company.  Then  he  hastily  took  leave  of  her 
and  ran  down  the  stairs. 

Wilhelm   soon    followed   him.     Henrika    accom- 
panied him  to  the  stairs  to  see   Georg  once   more, 
but  as  soon  as  she  heard  his  voice  she  turned  defi 
antly  and  went  back  to  her  sister. 

The  musician  found  Jonker  von  Dornburg  in  eager 
conversation  with  Nicolas. 

"  No,  no,  my  lad,"  the  German  was  saying  ear- 
nestly, "  my  way  cannoi  be  yours." 


TEE  BUBGOMASTElVa  WIFE.  317 

"I  am  seventeen." 

"  It  is  not  that,  it  is  not  that.  You  confronted 
me  bravely  awhile  ago  and  you  have  a  man's 
strength  of  will — but  life  will  bear  many  flowers 
for  you  yet,  fair  ones,  God  grant — you  are  starting 
out  to  win  with  your  sword  for  yourself  and  your 
country  a  worthy  lot  in  freedom  and  prosperity — 
but  I — give  me  your  hand  and  promise  me " 

"  My  hand?  There  it  is  ;  but  I  must  refuse  you 
the  promise.  With  you  or  without  you,  I  am  going 
to  the  Beggars." 

Georg  looked  approvingly  at  the  lad  and  asked 
gently  : 

"  Is  your  mother  living  ?'* 

"  No." 

"  Then  come.  Doubtless  we  shall  both  find  what 
we  seek,  with  the  Beggars." 

Nicolas  grasped  the  hand  that  Georg  extended, 
and  Wilhelm  approached  the  jonker  and  said  : 

"  I  expected  this  of  you  when  I  saw  you  at  St. 
Peter's  Church  and  at  Quatgelat's  tavern." 

"  You  were  the  first  to  open  my  eyes,"  cried 
Nicolas.  "  Come  now,  we  will  go  directly  through 
the  camp  ;  they  all  know  me." 

The  boy  kept  close  to  the  jonker  on  the  road,  and 
in  answer  to  Georg's  remark  that  he  was  placing 
himself  in  an  unfortunate  position  toward  his  father, 
replied : 

"I  know  it  and  it  makes  me  so  unhappy,  so 
unhappy.  But  I  cannot  help  it.  I  cannot  let  the 
reproach  '  traitor'  remain  upon  our  name." 

"  Your  cousin  Matenesse,  Herr  von  Riviere,  is 
also  devoted  to  the  good  cause." 

"  But  my  father  thinks  otherwise.  He  has  the 
courage  to  expect  good  from  the  Spaniards.  From 
the  Spaniards  I  I  have  come  to  know  them  in 
these  months.     A  brave  Leyden  lad — vou  will  know 


?,  1 8  TJIE  B URGOMASTER  'S  WIFE. 

him  by  his  nickname  of 'Lowing,'  which  he  truly 
deserved — was  captured  by  them  in  a  fair  fight; 
and  then — it  still  makes  me  shudder  when  I  think 
of  it — tliey  hung  him  up  with  Lis  liead  downward 
and  tortured  him  to  death.  I  was  there,  and  not  a 
word  of  what  they  said  escaped  me.  If  they  had 
their  way,  all  Holland  should  share  the  same  fate. 
And  such  remarks  are  heard  evei-y  day.  No  insult 
is  too  deep  for  us,  and  the  king  thinks  as  his  sol- 
diers do.  Let  who  will  be  the  slave  of  a  master 
who  oppresses  and  despises  us  !  My  holy  religion 
is  eternal  and  indestructible.  .1  do  not  care  whetiier 
it  is  hateful  to  many  of  the  Beggars,  if  they  will 
only  help  to  break  the  Spanish  chains." 

Talking  thus,  they  walked  through  the  Spanish 
camp,  non'  bnried  in  slumber.  Then  they  came  to 
the  German  quarters,  where  carousing  was  still 
going  on  before  many  a  tent.  At  the  outer  edge  of 
the  camp  a  sutler  and  his  wife  were  packing  up 
their  remaining  wares. 

Wilhehn  had  walked  in  silence  behind  the  other 
two,  for  his  heart  was  deeply  stirred,  and  pain  and 
joy  were  dee])ly  struggling  for  the  mastery.  He 
was  inspired  with  pure  and  noble  thoughts;  but 
suddenly  he  stopj)ed  before  the  sutler's  stand,  and 
stretched  out  his  hand  toward  the  bread  that  was 
gradually  disappearing  into  a  chest. 

Hunger  had  become  a  stern,  only  too  stern  a 
power  in  the  city  yonder,  and  it  was  not  at  all 
astonishing  that  Wilhelm  approached  the  sutler,, 
and,  with  sparkling  eyes,  purchased  all  the  ham  and 
bread  there  was  left. 

Nicolas  laughed  at  the  package  that  he  carried 
under  his  arm,  but  Georg  said : 

"  You  have  not  looked  want  in  the  face  yet, 
jonker.  This  bread  is  medicine  for  the  most  terrible 
disease." 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  ZV.) 

At  the  Hohenort  Gate,  Georg  caused  Captain  van 
Warmond  to  be  roused,  and  presented  JSTicolas  to 
him  as  a  future  Beggar.  The  captain  congratulated 
the  lad,  and  offered  him  money  to  provide  himself 
in  Delft  with  whatever  he  needed,  and  to  defray 
his  expenses  during  the  first  few  weeks.  Nicolas, 
however,  refused  the  offer,  for  a  purse  full  of  gold 
pieces  hung  at  his  belt.  A  dealer  in  precious  stones 
in  the  Hague  had  given  them  to  him  the  day  before 
for  old  Friiulein  van  Hoogstraten's  emerald  ring. 

Nicolas  showed  his  treasure  to  the  captain,  and 
then  cried : 

"Forward,  now,  Jonker  von  Dornburg.  I  know 
where  we  shall  find  the  Beggars.  And  you.  Cap- 
tain van  Duivenvoorde,  tell  the  burgomaster  and 
Janus  Dousa  what  I  have  become," 


320  TEE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 


'[  CHAPTER  XXXII. 

A  WEEK  had  elapsed  since  Henrika's  flight  and 
with  it  a  succession  of  days  fraught  with  privation. 
Maria  had  learned  from  the  musician  that  young 
Matenesse  had  followed  Georg  and  that  both  were 
on  their  way  to  the  Beggars.  It  was  as  it  should 
be.  The  leaping  brook  belonged  to  the  wild,  rush- 
ing, mighty  river.  She  wished  him  safety,  success, 
and  happiness  ;  but — strange — since  the  hour  in 
which  she  had  torn  his  book  asunder,  the  recollec- 
tion of  him  had  become  as  vague  as  in  the  days 
before  the  Spaniards'  arrival.  Yes,  after  the  hard- 
won  victory  over  herself  and  after  his  departure  a 
rare  spirit  of  happiness  had  come  over  the  young 
wife.  She  had  been  hard  tovrard  herself,  and  the 
inner  light  of  the  pure  diamond  only  shines  in  its 
true  brillianc}^  after  it  has  borne  the  torture  of  the 
cutter's  tool.  She  now  recognized  with  joyful 
gratitude  that  she  could  look,  unafraid,  into  Peter's 
eyes,  love  him,  and  require  love  in  return.  Under 
the  burden  of  his  cares,  he  seemed  scarcely  to 
notice  her  and  her  doings,  but  she  felt  none  the  less 
that  he  was  pleased  by  much  that  she  said  and  did 
for  him.  The  young  wife  did  not  sulfer  to  any 
extent  under  the  protracted  famine,  while  it  told 
upon  Barbara  and  weakened  her  strong  frame.  She 
often  grew  despairing  before  the  cold  hearth  and 
the  empty  pots  and  pans  and  no  longer  considered 
it  worth  while  to  flute  her  great  cap  and  neck-ruflf. 
It  was  now  for  Maria  to  encourage  her  and  to  re- 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  Z'H 

mind  her  of  her  son,  the  Beggar  captain,  who  would 
soon  enter  Leyden  witli  the  rescuing  army. 

On  tlie  sixth  of  September,  the  burgomaster's 
wife  was  returning  home  from  an  early  walk.  An 
autumn  mist  darkened  the  air  and  the  wind  from 
the  sea  drove  a  fine,  drizzling  rain  througli  the 
streets.  The  dripping  trees  had  long  been  robbed 
of  their  leaves,  but  not  by  wind  and  weather,  but 
by  children  and  adults  who  had  prized  this  food  for 
insects  as  a  precious  vegetable. 

Near  the  Schagensteg,  Maria  caught  sight  of 
Adrian  and  hurried  to  overtake  him.  The  boy  was 
walking  listlessly  along  and  counting  aloud  to  him- 
self. Maria  called  to  him  and  asked  him  why  he 
was  not  at  school  and  what  he  was  doing. 

"  I  am  counting,"  was  the  answer.  "  That  makes 
nine." 

"Nine?" 

"  Nine  bodies  that  I  have  met ;  the  rector  sent  us 
all  home.  Master  Dirks  is  dead  and  there  were 
only  thirteen  of  us  to-day.  There,  they  bring 
another  one." 

Maria  drew  her  cloak  closer  together  and  walked 
on.  A  tall,  narrow  house  lay  at  her  left.  A  cob- 
bler lived  there,  a  jovial  fellow  over  whose  door  two 
inscriptions  were  to  be  read.     One  ran  as  follows: 

"  Here  are  shoes  of  every  kind, 
Round  above  and  flat  below  ; 
If  David's  foot  they  do  not  suit, 
Goliath's  foot  they'll  fit,  I  know." 

And  the  other : 

"  When  the  Israelites  wandered  through  the  desert, 
Full  forty  years  their  shoes  they  wore. 
If  such  were  still  the  custom  pleasant. 
Apprentice  would  ne'er  seek  cobbler's  door." 

On  the  ridge  of  the  tall  house  stood  the  stork's 


322  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

nest.  It  was  empty.  The  red-billed  visitors  were 
not  in  the  habit  of  setting  out  on  their  journey  to 
the  south  so  early,  and  some  were  still  standing,  in 
^ipparent  meditation,  on  the  roofs  of  Leyden.  Wliat 
had  become  of  the  cobblers  friendly  guests?  At 
noon,  the  day  before,  their  liost,  who  was  accus- 
tomed in  March  to  secure  with  iiis  own  hand  the 
fortune-bringing  nest,  had  crei)t  upon  the  roof  and 
shot  down  with  his  cross-bow  first  the  female  and 
then  the  male,  as  he  was  returning  to  his  nest.  It 
had  been  hard  enough  for  him  to  do  this  and  liis 
wife  had  wept  in  the  kitchen  while  the  evil  deed 
was  being  done,  but  when  starvation  is  at  the  door 
and  one  sees  one's  dear  ones  dying,  one  does  not 
think  of  old  affections  and  future  happiness,  but 
seeks  salvation  for  to-day. 

The  storks  had  been  sacrified  too  late,  for  the 
cobbler's  son,  his  growing  apprentice,  had,  on  that 
night,  closed  his  eyes  forever.  Loud  lamentations 
reached  Maria  through  the  oj)en  door  of  the  shop 
and  Adrian  said  :  ''Jaco!)  is  dead  and  Mabel  is 
dying.  The  cobbler  cursed  ine  this  morning  on 
father's  account.  It  was  his  fault,  he  said,  if  we  all 
went  to  destruction.  Is  there  no  biead  again  to- 
day, mother  ?  Barbel  still  has  some  biscuit  left 
and  I  feel  so  sick.  I  cannot  swallow  any  more  of 
that  everlasting  meat." 

"  Perhaps  we  can  find  a  slice  for  you  to-day.  We 
must  be  sparing  of  bread,  child." 

In  the  hall  of  her  house,  Maria  found  a  servant 
clad  in  black.  He  had  come  to  announce  the  death 
of  Commissioner  Dietrich  van  Bronkliorst.  On  the 
evening  of  the  ])revious  day,  Sunday,  death  had  cut 
short  this  strong  man's  life. 

Maria  already  knew  of  this  heavy  loss,  which 
placed  upon  her  husband's  shoulders  the  entire  re- 
sponsibility of  all    that  was   to  happen.     She  had 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  323 

also  learned  that  a  letter  had  been  received  from 
Commander-in-chief  Valdez,  and  in  this  letter  Val- 
dez  had  pledged  his  word  as  a  nobleman  to  spare 
tlie  city  if  it  surrendered  to  the  "  clemency  "  of  the 
king,  and  to  grant  to  her  husband,  Ilerr  van  der 
Does,  and  the  other  leaders  of  the  rebelHon,  safe 
conduct  through  the  Spanish  lines.  The  Spaniards 
should  be  withdrawn  and  Leyden  garrisoned  with 
only  a  few  German  troops.  He  invited  Van  der 
"Werff  and  the  Seigneur  of  JS'ordwyk  to  Leyderdorp 
as  intermediaries  and  promised  to  send  them  home 
under  a  safe  escort,  even  if  the  negotiations  failed. 
Finally  Maria  knew  that  her  husband  had  sum- 
moned for  that  day  a  great  meeting  of  the  council, 
the  aldermen,  and  the  principal  men  in  tlie  city,  as 
well  as  the  captains  of  the  burgher-guard — but  not 
a  word  of  all  this  had  come  to  her  ears  through 
Peter  himself.  She  had  learned  it  all  from  Frau 
van  Hout  and  the  wives  of  other  burghers. 

A  great  change  had  taken  place  in  her  husband 
Avithin  the  last  few  days.  He  came  and  went,  pale 
and  gloomy.  Silent  and  consumed  by  care,  he  kept 
aloof  from  his  own  family.  He  repulsed  his  wife 
curtly  and  impatiently  whenever,  following  the 
impulse  of  her  heart,  she  approached  him  with 
words  of  encouragement.  Night  brought  him  no 
sleep  and  he  left  his  bed  before  morning 
dawned,  to  wander  restlessly  up  and  down,  or  look 
at  Lieschen,  who  would  only  show  by  a  faint  smile 
that  she  recognized  him. 

When  Maria  reached  home,  she  went  at  once  to 
the  child  and  found  Doctor  Bontius  with  her.  He 
shook  his  head  as  Maria  entered,  and  said  that  it 
would  soon  be  over  with  the  frail  little  thing.  Her 
stomach  had  been  injured  during  the  first  months 
of  want  and  it  now  refused  to  act,  and  it  would  be 
folly  to  hope  for  recovery. 


324  THE  DUIIOOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"  She  must  live,  she  must  not  die,"  cried  Maria 
wildly,  and  yet  hopefully,  like  a  true  mother  who 
cannot  grasp  the  thought  that  she  can  lose  her 
child,  even  when  the  little  heart  ceases  to  beat  and 
the  bright  eyes  grow  dim  and  close.  "  Lieschen, 
Lieschen,  look  at  me!  Lieschen,  drink  this  nice 
milk.  Only  a  few  drops  !  Lieschen,  Lieschen,  you 
must  not  die !"' 

Peter  had  entered  the  room  unnoticed  and  had 
heard  the  last  words.  AVith  bated  breath  he  looked 
down  at  his  darling,  and  his  broad  shoulders  shook 
as  he  said  to  the  doctor  in  a  stifled,  faltering  voice : 
"Must  she  die?" 

"  Yes,  I  fear  so  !  Bear  up,  old  friend  !  There  is 
still  much  left  you.  The  Van  Loos  have  lost  all 
five  by  the  plague." 

Peter  shuddered,  and,  without  noticing  Maria,  left 
the  room  with  bowed  head. 

Bontius  followed  him  to  his  stud}'^,  laid  his  hand 
on  his  arm,  and  said  : 

"  Our  short  span  of  life  is  made  bitter  for  us, 
Peter.  Barbara  tells  me  that  they  laid  a  body  at 
your  door  early  this  morning." 

"  Yes.  When  I  went  out,  I  was  greeted  by  the 
ghastly  face.  It  was  the  body  of  a  young  man. 
They  hold  me  responsible  for  all  whom  death  cuts 
down.  Look  where  one  will — bodies!  Go  where 
one  will — curses !  Have  I  authority  over  so  many 
lives?  Day  and  night,  nothing  but  death  and 
misery  before  my  eyes ;  and  yet,  yet,  yet — my 
God  !  save  me  from  madness  !" 

Peter  clasped  his  forehead  with  both  hands  ;  but 
Bontius  had  no  word  of  consolation  for  him  and 
cried : 

"And  I,  and  I?  My  wife  and  the  little  one  are 
down  with  fever,  I  on  my  feet  da}'  and  night,  not 
to  cure,  but  to  see  people  die.     All  that  a  man  has 


THE  nUROOM ASTER'S  WIFE.  325 

learned  by  hard  study  becomes  child's  play  at  such 
a  time,  and  yet  the  poor  wretches  give  a  sigh  of 
hope  when  I  feel  their  pulses.  But  things  cannot 
go  on  like  this,  they  cannot.  Seventy  deaths  day 
before  yesterday,  yesterday  eighty-six,  and  among 
them  two  of  my  colleagues." 

"  And  no  prospect  of  improvement  ?" 

"To-morrow  the  ninety  will  swell  to  a  hundred, 
the  one  before  the  hundred  will  be  changed  to  two 
and  three  and  four  and  five — until  at  last  there 
will  be  one  man  left  whom  there  will  be  no  one  to 
bury." 

"The  infected  houses  are  isolated  and  we  still 
have  cattle  and  horses.". 

"  But  the  pestilence  creeps  out  through  the  cracks, 
and  since  the  last  loaf  of  bread  and  the  last  malt 
cake  was  distributed  and  the  people  have  to  live 
upon  meat,  meat,  and  nothing  but  meat — a  raiser- 
able  little  piece  for  the  whole  day — disease  piles 
upon  disease  in  forms  that  were  never  heard  of  and 
for  which  no  remedies  have  been  discovered.  This 
drawing  water  with  a  bottomless  jug  is  beginning 
to  be  too  much  for  me.  My  brain  is  no  stronger 
than  yours.     Until  to-morrow." 

"  To-day,  today  !  You  will  be  at  the  meeting  at 
theEathhaus?" 

"Certainly  not!  Do  what  you  can  answer  for; 
I  must  pursue  my  calling — which  now  means  to 
close  men's  eyes  and  to  hold  post-mortem  examina- 
tions. If  this  goes  on  much  longer  practice  will 
soon  be  at  a  standstill." 

"  In  short :  in  my  place,  you  would  treat  with 
Valdez  ?" 

"  In  your  place  ?  I  am  not  you  :  I  am  a  doctor 
who  has  nothinfr  to  do  but  to  enter  the  lists  ao:ainst 
sufferino^  and  death.  Since  Bronkhorst's  death  you 
are  the  providence  of  the  city.     Add  to  the  meat  a 


32(j  THE  BUROO MASTER'S  WIFE. 

fiece  of  bread,  if  only  as  big  as  half  my  hand,  or — 
love  freedom  and  my  country  as  well  as  any  man 

— or " 

"  Or  ?" 

"  Or — leave  death  to  reap  his  harvest ;  you  are 
no  doctor." 

Bontius  saluted  his  friend  and  left  him.  Peter, 
however,  passed  his  hand  through  his  hair  and  stood 
staring  out  of  the  window  until  Barbara  entered 
with  his  robes  of  office,  and,  after  phicing  them  on  a 
chair,  asked  witli  feigned  composure  : 

"  May  I  give  Adrian  some  of  the  last  biscuit? 
Meat  sickens  him.  He  is  lying  on  his  bed,  writh- 
ing with  pain." 

Peter  grew  pale  and  said  dully  : 
"  Let  him  have  it  and  send  for  the  doctor." 
"  Maria  and  Bontius  are  already  with  him." 
The  burgomaster  changed  his  dress,  and  he  did  so 
with  hatred  of  every  article  he  put  on.    The  impos- 
ing robes  were  as  hateful  to  him  to-da^'^as  the  office 
that  gave  him  the   right  to  wear  them  and   which, 
until  a  few  weeks  before,  he  had  filled   with  joyful 
confidence  in  himself. 

Before  he  left  the  house,  he  went  to  Adrian.  The 
boy  was  lying  in  Barbara's  room,  comphiining  of 
violent  pains  and  asking  whether  he  too  must  die 
now.  Peter  shook  his  head,  but  Maria  kissed  the 
lad  and  cried  : 

"  No,  no,  of  course  you  are  not  going  to  die." 
The   burgomaster's   time    was    short,     llis    wife 
tried  to  stop  him  in  the  hall,  but  he  hurried  down 
the  stairs   without  hearing   what  slie  called  after 
him. 

Maria  returned  to  Adrian's  bedside.  As  she  sat 
holding  his  moist  hand  in  hers,  she  thought  fear- 
fully of  the  boy's  comrades  who  had  died  so  sud- 
denly.     She   thought   of    Lieschen,   she    pictured 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  33^ 

Peter  at  the  meeting  and  heard  his  powerful  voice 
contending  for  resistance  to  the  last  pound  of  meat 
and  to  the  last  man  ;  yes,  she  might  place  herself 
at  his  side,  for  she  knew  what  was  to  come,  to  en- 
dure, to  endure  to  the  end  for  freedom's  sake,  and, 
if  God  so  willed  it,  to  die  a  martyr's  death,  as 
Jacoba  and  Leonhard  and  Peter's  noble  father  had 
done. 

One  anxious  hour  followed  another. 

When  Adrian  began  to  feel  better,  she  went  to 
Lieschen,  who,  pale  and  listless,  seemed  to  be  drift- 
ing toward  death  and  only  raised  her  tiny  linger 
now  and  then  to  play  with  her  parched  lips. 

Ah,  the  sweet  human  flower  that  was  fading 
away  !  How  closel}''  the  child  had  twined  herself 
about  Maria's  heart,  how  impossible  it  seemed  to 
give  her  up!  With  tearful  eyes,  she  leaned  her 
forehead  upon  her  clasped  hand,  which  rested  on 
the  head-board  of  the  little  bed,  and  ])assionateIy 
prayed  to  God  to  spare  this  child.  She  repeated 
the  prayer  again  and  again,  but  when  the  dim  gaze 
no  longer  met  hers  and  her  hands  fell  back  into  her 
lap,  she  thought  of  Peter,  the  meeting,  the  fate  of 
the  city,  and  the  words :  "  Leyden  saved.  Holland 
saved  !     Leyden  lost,  all  lost !" 

So  the  hours  passed,  until  the  gloomy  day  was 
succeeded  by  twilight  and  the  twilight  by  evening. 
Trautchen  brought  the  candles,  and,  at  last,  Peter's 
steps  sounded  upon  the  stairs. 

It  must  be  he  and  yet  it  could  not  be,  for  never 
had  he  come  upstairs  so  slowly,  so  heavily. 

Then  the  door  of  the  stud}'  opened. 

It  was  he. 

What  could  have  happened  to  him,  what  had  the 
burghers  decided  'i 

With  an  anxious  heart  she  bade  Trautchen 
remain  with  the  child,  and  then  she  went  to  her 
husband. 


3;28  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

Peter  was  sittins:  before  liis  desk,  clad  in  his 
olKcial  robes,  liis  liat  still  on  his  head.  His  face 
was  buried  in  his  folded  arms. 

He  saw  nothing,  heard  nothing,  and  when  she 
sjToke  to  hiin  at  last,  he  spi-ang  up  and  fiuiig  his  hat 
violently  upon  the  table.  His  hair  was  disordered, 
his  glance  unsteady,  and,  in  the  faint  light  of  the 
flickering  candles,  his  cheeks  looked  ashen. 

"  What  do  you  want  ?"  he  asked  shortl}'  and  in  a 
harsh  voice,  but  Maria  did  not  answer  him  at  once. 
Dread  had  paralyzed  her  tongue. 

She  found  words  at  last,  and  there  was  keen 
apprehension  in  her  question  : 

"  What  has  happened  il" 

"  The  beginning  of  the  end,''  he  answered  dully. 

"  They  overruled  you  ?"  cried  Maria.  "  Baersdorp 
and  the  other  cowards  wish  to  parley  ?" 

He  drew  himself  erect  and  cried  in  a  loud  and 
threatening  tone  : 

"  Be  careful  of  your  tongue.  He  who  remains 
steadfast  until  his  children  die  and  corpses  block 
the  way  before  his  very  door,  he  who  is  answerable 
for  a  thousand  deaths,  who  for  long  weeks  has 
borne  revilings  and  curses,  w^ho  for  more  than  four 
months  has  hoped  in  vain  for  rescue — who,  wher- 
ever he  may  look,  sees  nothing  but  unparalleled, 
ever-increasing  misery,  and  then  no  longer  thrusts 
aside  the  eneniv's  rescuing  hand " 

"  Is  a  coward,  a  traitor,  and  breaks  the  solemn 
oath  that  he  has  made." 

"  Maria,"  thundered  Peter,  approaching  her  with 
threatening  looks. 

Breathing  quickl}^  and  with  her  figure  drawn  up 
to  its  full  height,  she  awaitetl  him,  and,  pointing  at 
him,  cried  with  a  sharp  tone  in  her  trembling 
voice : 

"  You,  you  have  sided  with  the  Baersdorps,  you, 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  329 

Peter  van  der  Werff  !  You  have  done  this  thingf, 
you,  the  friend  ot  the  prince,  the  mainstay  and 
protector  of  this  noble  city,  you,  the  man  who 
administered  the  oath  to  the  burghers,  the  son  of  a 
martyr,  the  champion  of  liberty " 

"  No  more !"  he  interrupted,  quivering  with 
shame  and  emotion.  "  Do  you  know  what  it  means 
to  bear  before  God  and  mankind  the  blame  of  all 
this  awful  misery  V 

"  Yes,  yes,  a  thousand  times  yes ;  it  means  to 
place  one's  iieart  upon  the  rack  to  save  Holland. 
That  is  what  it  means.  My  God,  my  God  !  You 
are  lost!     You  are  treating  with  Valdez  !" 

"  A.nd  if  I  am  ?"  asked  the  burgomaster,  raising 
his  hand  with  an  angry  gesture. 

She  looked  him  steadily  in  the  eye  and  said 
resolute]}^  : 

"Then  it  is  my  turn  to  say:  Go  to  Delft;  we 
have  need  of  other  men  here." 

He  grew  white  and  looked  down  at  the  floor  as 
she  confronted  him  with  fearless  bearing. 

The  light  fell  full  upon  her  glowing  face,  and, 
when  he  raised  his  eyes  to  hers  again,  it  seemed  to 
him  that  standing  before  him  was  the  same  Maria 
who  had  vowed  at  the  altar  to  share  want  and 
danger  with  him  and  to  remain  at  his  side,  steadfast 
to  the  end  in  the  cause  of  freedom ;  he  felt  that  his 
"child  "  Maria  had  grown  to  his  own  height  and 
passed  him  ;  he  recognized,  for  the  first  time,  in  the 
proud  woman  before  him  his  companion  in  conflict, 
the  noble-minded  comrade  in  dano-er  and  distress. 
A  longing,  stronger  and  more  overpowering  than 
he  had  ever  felt  before,  surged  u[)  in  him  and  drove 
him  to  her  and  found  expression  in  the  words : 

"  Maria,  Maria,  my  wife,  my  guardian  angel ! 
We  have  written  to  Valdez,  but  there  is  still  time. 


330  TUE  B  URQOM ASTER 'S  WIFE. 

Nothing  binds  me  as  yet,  and  with  you,  with  you,  I 
will  remain  faithful  to  the  end." 

She  cried  aloud  in  the  fullness  of  this  new,  unex- 
pected, unspeakable  happiness,  and,  running  to  his 
ahns,  exclaimed : 

"With  you,  one  with  you — always,  until  death, 
in  conflict  and  in  love!" 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  331 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Peter  was  animated  with  fresh  hope.  Courage 
and  enthusiasm  stirred  in  his  breast,  constantly  in- 
spired as  he  was  by  the  confidence  of  the  brave 
woman  at  his  side. 

Under  the  pressure  of  the  terrible  responsibility 
that  he  bore,  and  importuned  by  iiis  fellow  magis- 
trates, he  had  consented  at  the  meeting  to  write  to 
Valdez  antl  beg  for  safe  conduct  for  envoys  who 
should  appeal  to  the  Estates  and  the  prince  to 
absolve  the  stricken  city  from  its  oath. 

Valdez  made  every  effort  to  induce  the  burgo- 
master to  enter  into  further  negotiations,  but  the 
latter  stood  firm  and  no  request  for  release  from 
the  sacred  duty  of  resistance  went  out  from  the 
city.  The  Seigneurs  van  der  Does,  the  clerk  of  the 
council,  Jonker  van  Warmond,  and  other  resolute 
men,  who  had  already  protested  in  the  great 
assembly  against  any  dealings  with  the  enemy, 
sided  with  him  stoutly  against  his  colleagues  and 
the  council,  which,  with  the  exception  of  seven 
members,  insisted  obstinately  and  vehemently  upon 
the  opening  of  negotiations. 

Adrian  recovered  rapidly,  but  Doctor  Bontius' 
prophecy  was  hideously  fulfilled,  for  famine  and  the 
plague  vied  with  each  other  in  cruel  fury  and  carried 
off  almost  half  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  city.  Impen- 
etrable was  the  gloom  and  dark  the  sky,  yet  in  the 
midst  of  the  awful  distress  there  was  many  an  hour 
when  the  sunshine  filled  all  souls  and  hope  unfurled 


332  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

her  green  standard.  More  radiant  than  a  bride  roused 
on  her  weddinj^  morning  by  the  songs  of  her  com- 
panions, did  the  Leyden  burghers  rise  from  their 
beds,  when  on  the  morning  of  the  eleventh  of 
September  loud  and  long-sustained  booming  of 
cannon  was  heard  from  tlic  distance,  and  the  skies 
were  dyed  crimson.  The  villages  to  the  southwest 
of  the  city  were  in  flames.  Every  house,  every 
granary  that  was  reduced  to  ashes  and  buried  the 
fortunes  of  honest  men,  was  a  beacon  of  hope  to  the 
despairing  burghers. 

The  Beggars  were  on  their  way ! 

There,  where  the  cannons  thundered  and  the 
horizon  was  crimsoned,  lay  the  land-scheiding,  the 
bulwark  which  for  centuries  had  faithfully  protected 
the  plains  of  Leyden  against  the  onset  of  the  waves 
and  now  blocked  the  advance  of  the  rescuing  ships. 

"Fall,  sheltering  walls;  rise,  tempest;  swallow 
thy  prey,  raging  sea ;  destroy  the  wealth  of  the 
farmers,  devastate  our  fields  and  meadows,  but 
drown  the  enemy,  or  drive  hira  hence."  Thus  sang 
Janus  Dousa,  and  the  words  found  an  echo  in 
Peter's  soul ;  thus  prayed  Maria  and  with  her 
thousands  of  men  and  women. 

But  the  glow  on  the  horizon  died  away,  the 
report  of  cannon  was  silenced.  A  second  day 
passed,  a  third  and  fourth,  and  no  messenger 
arrived,  no  Beggar  ship  appeared,  and  the  sea 
seemed  to  lie  motionless ;  but  another  terrible 
power  increased  and  moved  with  secret,  stealthy, 
irresistible  might :  Death,  with  his  pale  com- 
panions. Starvation  and  Despair. 

The  dead  were  buried  b}^  their  friends  under  cover 
of  night,  in  order  to  retain  the  small  portion  of 
food  allotted  to  them.  From  house  to  house  sped 
the  angel  of  death  and  he  came  to  Lieschen  also, 
and,  in  the  silent  night,  kissed  her  closed  eyes  as 
she  slept. 


THE  B  UROOMA STER  '8  WIFE.  333 

The  Spanish  sympathizers  and  the  faint-hearted 
raised  their  heads  again  and  formed  into  bands  and 
even  forced  their  way  into  the  Rathhaus  to  demand 
bread.  But  there  was  not  a  crumb  to  be  had  and 
the  authorities  had  nothmg  to  distribute  but  a 
small  portion  of  beef  and  horse  flesh  and  chopped 
and  salted  hides. 

During  this  period  of  deepest  privation,  Yan  der 
Werff  was  walking  down  the  "  broad  street."  He 
paid  no  heed  to  a  crowd  of  desperate  men  and 
women  who  were  following  him  with  threats,  but 
as  he  was  about  to  turn  into  Van  Hout's  house  he 
suddenly  found  himself  surrounded.  A  pallid 
woman  with  her  dying  cliild  in  her  arms  fell  on  her 
knees  before  him,  and,  holding  up  the  dying  infant, 
cried  in  hollow  tones  :  "  Let  this  be  enough,  let  it 
be  enough  ;  it  is  the  third.     Let  it  be  enough  !" 

"  Enough,  enough  !  Bread,  bread !  Give  us 
bread !"  was  shouted  on  every  side,  and  stones  and 
weapons  w^ere  raised  threateningly ;  a  carpenter, 
whom  he  knew,  and  who  had  hitherto  remained 
faithful  to  the  good  cause,  came  nearer  to  him  ami 
said  quietly  :  "  We  can  go  on  no  longer.  We  have 
borne  hunger  and  suffering  patiently  for  the  sake  of 
our  Bibles,  but  it  is  madness  to  fight  against 
certain  death." 

Pale  and  shaken,  Peter  looked  at  the  mother,  the 
child,  the  brave  workman,  and  the  threatening, 
shrieking  wretches.  The  same  misery  that  crushed 
them  and  so  many  other  starving  people,  oppressed 
his  soul  a  thousandfold.  His  heart  overflowed 
with  compassion.  He  longed  to  take  them  all  to 
his  arms  as  brothers  in  misfortune,  companions  in  a 
future  and  more  worthy  existence.  With  deep 
emotion,  he  looked  from  one  to  another.  Then  he 
pressed  his  hands  to  his  breast  and  cried  to  the  mob 
that  surrounded  him : 


334  THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

"  Here  I  stand.  I  have  sworn  to  remain  stead- 
fast to  the  end ;  and  3'ou  swore  to  do  so  with  me. 
I  will  not  break  iny  oiith,  but  I  can  die.  If  my  life 
can  serve  you,  hero  I  stand.  Bread  I  have  none, 
but  here  is  my  body.  Take  it ;  lay  hands  on  me 
and  tear  me  to  pieces.  Here  I  stand.  I  will  keep 
my  oath  !" 

Tlie  carpenter  bowed  his  head  and  said  dully  : 
"  Come,  friends,  as  God  wills  ;  we  have  sworn." 

The  burgomaster  quietly  entered  his  friend's 
house.  Fran  van  Ilout  had  seen  and  heard  all,  and 
that  very  day  she  told  Maria  of  what  had  taken 
])lace,  and  her  eyes  sparkled  as  she  cried  :  "  I  never 
saw  a  man  as  noble  as  he  was  in  that  hour !  It  is 
well  for  us  tliat  he  rules  within  our  walls.  Our 
children  and  our  children's  children  will  never  for- 
get what  he  has  done.'' 

Nor  ha^e  they  ceased  to  hold  him  in  loving  re- 
membrance. Upon  the  night  of  the  day  on  which 
the  burgomaster  bore  himself  so  manfully  came  a 
letter  from  the  ])rince,  full  of  glad  and  encouraging 
news.  He  had  recovered  his  health,  and  was  mak- 
ing every  effort  to  save  the  good  city  of  Leyden. 
The  Beggars  had  ]>ierced  the  land-scheiding  ;  their 
ships  were  advancing  ;  help  was  at  hand  ;  and  the 
faithful  burgher  who  had  brought  the  letter  had 
seen  with  his  own  eyes  the  rescuing  fleet  and  the 
champions  of  freedom  glowing  with  the  desire  for 
battle.  The  Seigneurs  van  der  Does  were  appointed 
the  prince's  commissioners  in  the  place  of  Van 
Bronkhorst.  Van  der  Werff  no  longer  stood  alone  ; 
and  when, on  the  following  morning,  ''Father Will- 
iam's" letter  was  read  aloud  and  the  messenger's 
report  spread  abroad,  the  courage  and  confidence 
of  the  tortured  burghers  rose  like  withering  grass 
after  a  refreshing  rain. 

But  weeks  of  anxiety  and  suffering  still  lav  before 
them. 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  335 

The  last  of  September  they  were  forced  to  slaugh- 
ter the  milch  cows  that  had  been  spared  for  the 
infants  and  mothers  ;  and  then — then? 

Help  was  near,  for  the  skies  were  often  reddened 
and  the  air  was  shaken  b}^  the  roar  of  distant 
cannon  ;  but  the  east  wind  held  and  drove  back  the 
advancing  waters,  and  the  ships  needed  a  steadily 
mountino-  tide  in  order  to  reach  the  citv. 

Kone  of  the  messengers  who  had  been  sent  out 
returned  ;  nothing  was  certain  but  the  intolerable, 
ever-increasing  suffering.  Barbara  had  now  taken 
to  her  bed,  and  complained  of  weakness  and  repug- 
nance for  food. 

Maria  remembered  the  roast  pigeon,  which  had 
done  poor  little  Lieschen  so  much  good,  and  she 
went  to  the  musician  to  ask  him  whether  he  could 
bring  himself  to  sacrifice  one  more  of  his  pets  for 
her  sister-in-law. 

Wilhelm's  mother  received  Maria.  She  was  sit- 
ting, listless  and  feeble,  in  an  easy -chair.  She  could 
still  walk,  but  a  strange  trembling,  caused  by  anx- 
iety and  distress,  had  affected  her  hands.  She  shook 
her  head  at  Maria's  request,  and  said :  "  Ask  him 
yourself.  He  has  to  keep  the  little  creatures  shut 
up,  for  whenever  they  show  themselves  they  are 
shot  by  the  starving  people.  There  are  but  three 
left.  The  others  were  taken  b}'  the  messengers,  and 
they  have  not  returned.  God  be  praised  for  it ! 
The  little  food  Wilhelm  still  has  left  for  them  will 
do  more  good  in  our  stomachs  than  in  their  crops. 
Would  you  believe  it?  Two  weeks  ago  he  gave 
fifty  gulden  from  his  savings  for  half  a  bag  of  peas, 
and  God  knows  where  he  found  even  that.  Ullrich, 
UUricli !  Take  the  Frau  Biirgemeisterin  up  to 
Wilhelm.  I  would  like  to  spare  you  the  climb,  but 
he  is  waiting  for  the  pigeons  that  were  sent  out,  and 
he  does  not  even  come  down  for  his  meals.  Lieber 
Gott !    It  isn't  worth  the  trouble !" 


336  TUB  BURGOMASTER'^  WIFE. 

The  day  was  clear  and  sunny.  Wilhelm  was 
standing  in  his  balcony  and  gazing  toward  the 
south  across  the  green  plain  that  lay  outstretched 
below  him.  Behind  him  sat  Andreas,  the  fencinj""- 
master's  fatherless  boy,  writing  music,  but  his  atten- 
tion was  not  fixed  on  his  work  and  as  soon  as  he  had 
finished  aline  he  too  gazed  into  the  distance,  watch- 
ing for  the  pigeon  whose  return  his  master  was  expect- 
ing. He  did  not  look  especially  wasted,  for  many 
a  grain  of  the  pigeons'  food  had  been  added  secretly 
to  his  small  ration  of  meat. 

Wilhelm  showed  how  surprised  and  honored  he 
was  by  the  visit  of  the  burgomaster's  wife  and 
promised  to  accede  to  her  request,  but  it  was  plain 
that  this  consent  was  not  easy  for  him  to  give. 

Maria  stepped  out  upon  the  balcony  with  him  and 
he  showed  her  in  the  south,  where  usually  nothing 
but  green  met  the  eye,  a  wide  surface,  above  which 
hung  a  thin  mist.  The  afternoon  sun  seemed  to 
steep  the  white  va])or  with  light  and  entice  it  up- 
ward by  its  burning  ra^^s.  This  was  the  water 
flowing  in  through  the  pierced  dykes,  and  the  long, 
black  lines  that  were  moving  at  its  edge  must  be 
the  Spanish  troops  and  herds  of  cattle  retreating 
before  the  advancing  flood,  from  the  outer  forts, 
villages,  and  hamlets.  The  land-scheiding  itself  was 
not  visible,  but  the  Beggars  had  long  since  passed 
it.  If  the  fleet  succeeded  in  reaching  the  Zoeter- 
meer  Lake,  and  from  there 

Wilhelm  was  suddenly  interrupted  in  his  explana- 
tions, for  Andreas  had  s])rung  up,  pushed  aside  his 
chair,  and  cried  : 

"  It  is  coming !  The  pigeon  !  By  Roland,  my 
fore  man,  there  it  comes  !" 

This  was  the  first  time  that  Wilhelm  had  heard 
from  the  boy's  lips  his  father's  exclamation,  lie 
must  have  been  greatly  excited,  and,  indeed,  he  had 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  337 

not  been  mistaken,  for  the  speck  that  his  keen  eye 
had  perceived  was  no  longer  a  speck  but  a  longish 
something — a  bird — the  pigeon  ! 

Williehn  seized  the  flag  that  stood  on  the  balcony, 
and  waved  it  as  joyously  as  ever  conqueror  waved 
his  banner  after  a  hard-won  fight.  There  came  the 
pigeon  :  he  lighted,  slipped  into  the  cote,  and  a  few 
moments  later  the  musician  appeared  with  a  tiny 
missive. 

"  To  the  magistrates  !"  cried  Wilhelm.  "  Take  it 
to  your  husband  at  once.  Oh,  dear  lady,  dear  lady, 
finish  what  the  pigeon  has  begun.  Thank  God ! 
thank  God !  they  are  already  at  the  Nord-Aa.  It 
will  save  the  poor  people  from  despair.  And  one 
thing  more :  you  shall  have  the  pigeon,  but  take 
this  grain  too;  a  broth  of  barley  will  be  the  best 
medicine  for  Barbara ;  I  have  tried  it." 

When  it  had  grown  dark  and  the  musician  had 
communicated  the  joyful  tidings  to  his  parents, 
he  gave  orders  that  the  blue  pigeon  with  the 
white  breast  should  be  caught.  "  Put  an  end  to  it 
outside,"  he  begged.  "  I  cannot  look  on  and  see 
it  done." 

Andreas  soon  came  back  with  the  headless 
pigeon.  His  lips  were  bloody  and  Wilhelm  knew 
from  what,  but  he  did  not  reprove  the  starving 
lad. 

Earl}'^  the  following  morning,  a  second  pigeon 
returned.  The  letters  that  the  winged  messengers 
had  brought  were  read  aloud  from  the  window  of 
the  Rathhaus,  and  the  courage  of  the  people,  pressed 
to  the  extreme  limit  of  endurance,  revived  anew  and. 
helped  them  to  bear  the  worst.  One  of  the  letters 
was  addressed  to  the  magistrates,  the  other  to  Janus 
Dousa;  they  sounded  confident  and  hopeful.  The 
prince — the  dauntlesscham])ion  of  liberty,  the  friend 
and  leader  of  the  people — the  prince  was  well  again 


338  TUE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

and  had  visited  the  ships  and  troops  destined  for 
tiie  relief  of  Leyden.  Kelief  was  so  near,  but  the 
northeast  wind  would  not  change  and  the  water 
did  not  rise.  Upon  the  citadel  and  other  elevated 
places  stood  burghers,  soldiers,  councilors,  and 
women,  in  great  numbers,  gazing  into  the  distance. 
Thousands  of  hands  Avere  i-aised  in  passionate 
supplication  and  all  eyes  wei-e  turned  with  feverish 
expectancy  toward  the  south,  but  the  waters  did 
not  advance;  and,  as  if  in  scorn,  the  sun  burst  joy- 
fully through  the  mists  of  the  autumn  morning,  im- 
parted a  pleasant  warmth  to  the  keen  air,  and  sank 
to  rest,  at  last,  in  radiant  splendor,  shooting  out  its 
golden  rays  far  and  wide.  The  cloudless  blue  of 
the  heavens  arched  serenely  and  pitilessly  above  the 
city  and  decked  itself  at  night  with  myriads  of  glit- 
tering stars.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty- 
ninth,  the  fog  thickened,  the  grass  remained  dry, 
the  mists  rose,  the  fresh  air  grew  sultry,  and  the 
gray  clouds  piled  one  upon  another  and  turned  to  a 
soniber  black.  Then  a  light  breeze  sprang  up  and 
played  in  the  leafless  bi'anches,  then  a  sudden  gust 
of  wind  passed  over  the  heads  of  the  watching  mul- 
titude. It  was  followed  by  a  second  and  a  third, 
and  then,  without  pause  or  interruption,  a  shrieking 
tempest  howled  through  the  city,  swept  the  tiles 
from  the  roofs,  bent  the  fruit  trees  in  the  gardens 
and  the  young  elms  and  lindens  on  many  a  street, 
tore  down  the  flags  that  the  boys  had  planted  u)>on 
the  walls  in  defiance  of  the  Spaniards,  lashed  the 
calm  waters  of  the  city  moat  and  the  quietly  flowing 
canals,  and — God  does  not  forsake  his  own — the 
weather-vanes  turned,  the  storm  came  from  the 
northwest,  and — no  one  saw  it,  but  the  sailors 
shouted  it  aloud  and  every  man  echoed  it  exultingly 
and  carried  it  fui'tlior— the  hurricane  drove  the 
tossing  waters  of   the  sea  into  the  mouth  of  the 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  339 

Meiise,  and,  with  fierce  assault,  forced  back  the 
river  until  it  overflowed  its  banks  and  hunted  it 
til  rough  the  dykes  opened  for  its  reception  and  tiie 
gates  of  the  sluices,  and  drove  forward  upon  the 
towering  crests  of  the  waters  the  rescuing  sliips. 

Fall,  rain  ;  roar,  storm  ;  rage,  waves,  and  destroy 
the  meadows,  swallow  up  the  houses  and  villages ! 
On  the  walls  and  towers  of  Leyden  thousands  and 
thousands  of  burghers  hail  your  approach.  They 
see  in  3'ou  the  terrible  arjiiies  of  the  avenging  God 
and  welcome  you  with  shouts  of  exultation. 

For  two  successive  days,  the  burgomaster — with 
Maria  and  Adrian,  the  Van  der  Does  and  Yan 
Houts — stationed  himself,  with  brief  intervals  of 
rest,  in  the  midst  of  the  crowds  on  the  top  of  the 
citadel  or  on  the  tow^er  at  the  Kuhthor,  and  even. 
Barbara,  who  had  been  revived  by  hope  much  more 
than  by  the  barley  broth  and  the  lean  pigeon,  could 
not  be  kept  at  home,  but  dragged  herself  up  to  the 
musician's  lookout,  for  every  one  wished  to  see 
how  the  waters  advanced,  how  the  earth  grew  soft, 
and  the  moisture  crept  through  the  blades  of  grass 
and  formed  into  pools,  ponds,  and  at  last  a  broad 
expanse  uj)on  which  bubbles  were  formed  by  the 
descending  rain  and  soread  into  ever-widenino- 
circles.  Every  one  wished  to  see  how  the  Spaniards 
ran  hither  and  thither  like  sheep  pursued  by  a  wolf. 
All  wished  to  hear  the  thunder  of  the  JBeggars' 
cannon,  the  rattle  of  their  arquebuses  and  muskets; 
and  men  and  women  seemed  to  find  the  storm  that 
threatened  to  blow  them  from  the  walls  more 
pleasant  than  the  mildest  zejihyr,  and  preferred  the 
pouring  rain  that  drenched  them  to  the  skin  to  the 
glittering  dew  of  a  spring  morning. 

Behind  the  strong  fortification  of  Lammen,  which 
was  defended  by  several  hundred  Spanish  soldiers, 
and  Schloss  Kronenstein,  a  sharp  eye  could  dis- 
tinguish the  ships  of  the  Beggars. 


340  TU/J  miiGOMASTER'S  WIFE. 

On  Thursday  and  Friday  "Wilhelm  had  looked  in 
vain  for  a  pigeon,  but  on  Saturday  his  best  flyer 
returned.  It  brought  a  letter  from  Admiral  Boisot, 
who  called  upon  tlie  armed  forces  of  the  city  to 
attempt  a  sally  on  Friday  and  make  an  attack 
upon  Lam  men. 

The  storm  had  blown  the  bird  out  of  its  course. 
It  had  reached  the  city  too  late,  but  on  Saturday 
evening  Janus  Dousa  and  Captain  van  der  Laen 
bestirred  tliemselves.  Ever}'  man  who  could  carry 
a  musket  was  ordered  to  appear  early  Sunday 
morning.  Poor,  pale,  emaciated  troops  they  were 
to  whom  the  leaders'  orders  were  issued,  but  no  one 
thought  of  failing;  every  man  was  ready  to  lay 
down  his  life  for  the  city  and  his  dear  ones. 

The  storm  had  subsided,  the  firing  had  ceased, 
and  the  night  was  dark  and  sultry.  Few  cared  to 
close  their  eyes,  and  those  who  were  overpowered 
for  a  time  by  sleep  were  roused  and  terrified  by 
mysterious  sounds.  Wilhelm  sat  in  his  watch- 
tower,  looking  toward  the  south.  ]S^ow  a  feeble 
gust  of  wind  moaned  about  the  tall  house,  now  a 
call,  a  cry,  a  trumpet  peal  sounded  through  the 
silence  of  tlie  night ;  then  came  a  crash  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  the  Kuhthor,  as  though  an  earthquake  had 
shaken  a  part  of  the  city  to  its  foundations.  There 
was  not  a  star  to  be  seen  in  the  sky,  but  in  the 
direction  of  Laramen  glowing  points  of  light,  like 
will-o'-the-wisps,  were  seen  moving  through  the 
deep  gloom. 

In  the  early  morning  it  was  found  that  a  portion 
of  the  cit}'  wall  near  the  Kuhthor  had  fallen  in, 
and  such  rejoicing  as  had  never  been  heard  before 
arose  near  the  breach  that  was  no  longer  dangerous, 
and  the  joyous  outcries  spread  through  ever}'  street 
and  alle}',  and  drew  from  the  houses  men  and 
women,  old  and  young,  sick  and  well,  who  crowded 


THE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  Zl\ 

to  the  Kuhthor,  from  whence  the  Beggar  fleet 
could  be  seen  approaching.  The  city  carpenter, 
Thomassohn,  and  other  men  tore  from  the  water 
the  piles  with  which  the  Spaniards  had  sought  to 
obstruct  the  "Vliet,"  and  then  the  first  ship  and  a 
second  and  a  third  drew  up  to  the  walls.  Fierce, 
bearded  men  with  grim,  scarred,  sunburnt  faces, 
whose  cheeks  had  for  years  felt  no  salty  moisture 
other  than  the  water  of  the  sea,  smiled  at  the 
burgljers  and  tossed  them  one  loaf  of  bread  after 
another  and  many  good  things  that  had  long  been 
denied  them,  and  wept  and  sobbed  like  children, 
while  the  poor  people  ate  and  ate,  and  could  find  no 
word  of  thanks.  Then  came  the  leaders ;  Admiral 
Boisot  embraced  Van  der  Does  and  Van  der  Werff ; 
and  the  Beggar  Captain  van  Duijkenburg  was 
clasped  in  the  arms  of  Barbara,  his  mother,  and 
many  a  Leydener  fell  upon  the  neck  of  a  rescuer 
whom  he  had  never  set  eyes  on  before.  Many  were 
the  tears  that  fell,  thousands  of  hearts  overflowed, 
and  the  Sunday  bolls  sounded  clearer  and  purer 
than  ever  before,  as  they  called  to  prayer  the 
rescuers  and  the  rescued.  The  spacious  church  was 
too  small  that  day,  and  when  preacher  Cornelius- 
sohn,  who  took  the  place  of  the  noble  Verstroot, 
wdio  had  been  taken  ill  in  caring  for  so  many  sick, 
bade  the  devout  congregation  to  offer  up  thanks, 
they  had  long  forestalled  his  exhortation  ;  since  the 
first  note  of  the  organ  the  thousands  who  HUed  the 
church  had  been  animated  by  the  same  fervent 
longing  to  give  expression  to  their  gratitude. 

Father  Damianus  also  returned  thanks  to  God  in. 
the  chapel  of  the  Gray  Kuns,  and,  with  him, 
Nicolas  van  AVibisma  and  other  Catholics  to  whom 
freedom  and  the  fatlierhmd  were  dear. 

When  church  was  over,  Adrian,  at  the  head  of 
his  companions,  his  shoes  in  one  hand  and  a  piece 


342  THE  B  UEOOMA  STEM 'S  WIFE. 

of  bi'oad  ill  tlie  other,  waded  through  the  submerged, 
high-lying  meadows  to  Le3alerdorj3  to  look  at  tlio 
Spaniards'  deserted  camp.  There  stood  the  proud 
tent  of  the  commander-in-chief,  Valdez.  Above 
the  general's  cot  hung  a  map  of  the  llhine  countries 
which  the  Netherlander  Beeldsnidger  had  drawn 
for  Valdez,  to  the  injury  of  his  own  j)eople.  The 
boys  were  looking  at  it,  when  a  Beggar,  who  had 
once  sat  in  a  counting-room,  but  now  looked  like  a 
sea  bear,  placed  himself  before  the  map  and  said  : 

"Look,  boys.  There  is  the  land-scheiding. 
We  pierced  that  first,  but  that  was  only  the  begin- 
ning. There  was  a  tiresome  delay  at  tiie  Griinen 
Weg,*  and  here  at  the  third  dyke — the  Vorweg 
they  call  it — we  found  a  hard  nut  to  crack  and  fur- 
ther progress  was  impossible.  So  back  we  went 
again  in  a  great  circle  across  the  Sagwaert  Weg 
and  through  this  canal  where  we  had  a  bad  time  of 
it,  to  the  ^ord-Aa.  The  Zoetermeer  Lake  lay  be- 
hind us  now,  but  the  water  was  too  shallow — we 
could  go  no  further.  Llave  you  seen  the  great 
'  Ark  of  Delft  V  It  is  a  huge  vessel  and  is  moved 
by  paddle  wheels  instead  of  oars.  You  will  like  to 
see  it.  At  last  the  Lord  sent  the  tempest  and  the 
spring  tide,  and  the  ships  had  all  the  water  they 
needed.  We  had  another  hot  fi"ht  at  the  Kerk- 
laen,f  but  day  before  yesterday  we  reached  Lam- 
men.  Many  a  brave  man  had  already  fallen,  but  at 
Lammen  we  expected  to  have  the  first  real  struggle. 
We  meant  to  storm  it  early  this  morning,  but  as 
day  dawned  all  was  strangely  quiet  in  tlie  place  and 
an  unnatural  stillness  prevailed  everywhere.  Ley- 
den  has  fallen,  was  our  first  thought.  Starvation 
has  conquered  her.  But  no  such  thing  !  You  are 
made  of  good  stufi" !     And  then  a  lad  about  as  big 

♦  Green  Way.  t  Kirk  Way. 


THE  BUBGOM ASTER'S  WIFE.  343 

as  one  of  you  came  to  our  ship  and  said  he  had 
seen  in  the  night  a  long  procession  of  lights  come 
out  of  the  fort  and  move  away.  We  would  not 
l)eheve  him  at  first,  but  the  boy  was  right.  Tlie 
water  had  proved  too  much  for  the  rats,  and  the 
lights  that  the  boy  had  seen  were  the  slow 
matches  of  the  Spaniards.  Look,  boys,  there  is 
Lam  men.     .     .     ." 

Here  Adrian,  who  with  his  companions  had  gone 
closer  to  the  map,  interrupted  the  Beggar  with  a 
loud  burst  of  laughter. 

"  What  is  it,  curly  head  ?"  asked  the  man, 

"  Look,  look  !"  cried  the  boy.  "  Tlie  great  com- 
mander-in-chief has  immortalized  himself  here,  and 
here  is  his  name,  too.  Listen,  listen  !  The  rector 
would  hang  the  placard  with  the  word  '  donkey  ' 
round  his  neck,  for  here  he  has  written:  '■  Castelli 
ixirvi  P  '  Vale  civitas,  valete  Castelli  jyarvi  ;  relicti 
estis  i^ropter  aquam  et  non  per  mm  inimicorum  /' 
Oh,  what  a  blockhead  !     '  Castelli parvi  P ''^ 

"  What  does  it  mean  ?"  asked  the  Beggar. 

"Farewell,  Lej^den,  farewell,  ye  little  '  Castelli,^ 
thou  art  abandoned  because  of  the  waters  and  not 
because  of  the  strength  of  the  enemy.  ^  Parvi 
Castelli.''     I  must  tell  mother  that." 

On  Monday,  William  of  Orange  came  to  Leyden 
and  made  his  headquarters  at  the  house  of  ITerr 
van  Montfort.  The  people  received  their  "Father 
William"  with  rejoicings,  and  amidst  the  joy  and 
happiness  that  surrounded  him  this  untiring  cham- 
j)ioii  «)t  Holland's  liberty  was  active  in  securing  the 
future  welfare  of  the  city.  Later  on  he  rewarded 
the  faiihful  endurance  of  her  burghers  with  a 
magnificent  memorial — the  University  of  Leyden. 
It  awakened  and  kept  alive  in  the  busy  city,  and  the 
country  that  for  long  years  had  bled  under  cruel 
wars,  that  spirit  whose  "lofty   aims  and  aspirations 


344  TUE  D  UROOMA STER  'S  WIFE. 

are  its  own  reward,  and  which  places  eternal  wel- 
fare far  above  worldly  prosperity.  The  tree  whose 
seed  was  sown  amidst  tlie  deepest  suffering,  amidst 
conflict  and  oppression,  has  borne  for  mankind  the 
noblest  fruits,  and,  God  willing,  will  bear  them  for 
centuries  to  come. 


On  the  twenty-sixth  of  Jul}'^,  1581,  seven  years 
after  the  deliverance  of  Levden,  Holland  and  Zea- 
lanti,  whose  political  independence  had  already  been 
assured,  declared  themselves  at  the  Hague  inde- 
pendent of  Spain,  AVilliam  of  Orange  had  hitherto 
ruled  as  stadtholder  of  King  Philip  and  had  waged 
war  against  him  in  the  king's  own  name.  Even  the 
charter  of  the  university,  a  document  which, 
drawn  up  as  it  was  in  all  seriousness,  deserves  to  be 
called  an  unequaled  masterpiece  of  the  subtlest 
political  irony,  the  Prince  of  Orange  attributed  to 
King  Philip  ;  and  it  is  delightful  to  read  that  the 
somber  ignoramus  in  the  Escurial,  after  rij)ely 
deliberating  with  his  dear  and  faithful  cousin, 
William  of  Orange,  had  resolved  to  erect  a  free 
"  public  school  and  university  "  for  reasons  which 
to  the  king  could  not  but  appear  detestable. 

On  the  twentv-fourth  of  Julv,  this  farce  was 
brought  to  an  end  and  Philip  was  deposed.  The 
prince  assumed  the  sovereign  power. 

Three  days  later  tliis  glad  event  was  celebrated 
in  the  Van  der  Werff  household  by  a  splendid 
banquet, 

Tlie  windows  of  the  dining-room  were  thrown 
wide  open  and  the  breezes  of  the  summer  night 
fanned  the  faces  of  the  guests  who  were  assembled 
about  the  burgomaster's  table.  They  were  the 
most  intimate  friends  of  the  family  :  Janus  Dousa, 


TEE  BURGOMASTER'S  WIFE.  345 

Van  Hout,  the  learned  Doctor  Grotius  of  Delft- - 
who  to  Maria's  joy  had  been  summoned  to  Leyden 
as  professor,  and  who  tliis  year  iilled  the  position 
of  rector  of  the  university — the  scliolarly  innlveeper 
Aquanus,  Doctor  Bontius,  now  professor  of  medi- 
cine at  the  university,  and  others. 

The  musician,  Wilhelm,  was  also  there,  but  he 
was  not  alone;  at  his  side  sat  his  beautiful  wife, 
Anna  d'Avila,  with  whom  he  had  just  returned 
from  Italy.  For  some  years  he  had  been  called 
Yan  Duivenbode  (messenger  dove),  for  the  city 
had  honored  him  with  this  noble  name,  and  with  a 
coat  of  arms  which  bore  three  blue  pigeons  and  two 
crossed  keys  upon  a  silver  field. 

With  the  prince's  consent,  old  Friiulein  van  Hoog- 
straten's  bequests  to  her  relatives  and  servants  had 
been  recognized  and  AYilhelm  and  his  wife  were 
now  living  in  a  handsome  new  house,  where  a  dove 
cote  was  not  lackino^  and  where  Maria,  althouo-h 
her  four  children  left  her  little  time,  took  part  in 
many  a  madrigal.  Adrian,  grown  to  a  fine  young 
man  who  had  completed  his  studies  at  the  new 
university  and  was  soon  to  be  received  into  the 
council,  had  many  questions  to  ask  Wilhelm  about 
Rome  and  his  sister-in-law,  Ilenrika.  Belotti  had 
gone  with  the  latter,  after  the  death  of  her  father 
who  had  received  Anna  and  forgiven  her,  to  Italy, 
and  she  was  living  there  as  the  head  of  a  secular 
order  where  music  was  cultivated  with  special 
devotion. 

Barbara  did  not  appear  among  the  guests.  She 
had  plenty  to  do  in  the  kitchen.  Her  cap  was  now 
fluted  with  almost  coquettish  care,  and  the  assured 
and  contented  way  in  which  she  ruled  over  Traut- 
chen  and  the  two  other  maids  showed  that  in  Peter's 
househokl  and  business,  all  was  going  as  it  should. 
It  was  worth  while  making  a  special  eiTort  for  such 


346  THE  B  URGOMA  STER  S  WIFE. 

guests.  Jonker  van  "Warmond  was  also  amoncr 
them,  and  the  place  of  honor  between  the  rector  and 
Janus  Dousa,  who  was  now  fii-st  curator  of  the  uni- 
versity, was  reserved  for  him,  for  he  had  become  a 
great  man  and  an  influential  statesman  ;  and  had 
with  dilliculty  found  time  to  leave  the  Hague  with 
his  young  colleague,  iS^icolas  van  Wibisma,  to  be 
present  at  the  banquet.  Cheerful  and  merr}^  as  ever, 
he  drank  to  Meister  Aquanus  and  cried: 

"  To  old  times  and  to  our  friend  Georg  von  Dorn- 
burg !" 

"  With  all  my  heart !"  answered  the  innkeeper. 
•'  It  is  long  since  we  have  heard  of  his  daring  deeds 
and  adventures." 

"  It  is  quite  natural!  The  fermenting  wine  has 
gro\yn  clear.  Dornburg  has  entered  the  English 
service  again,  and,  a  month  ago,  I  met  him  in  Lon- 
don, a  member  of  her  majesty's  Admiralty.  His 
squadron  is  now  on  the  way  to  Venice.  lie  still 
thinks  fondly  of  Leyden  and  he  bade  me  carry 
affectionate  remembrances  to  you  all.  But  you 
would  not  recognize  our  former  favorite  in  the  quiet, 
cheerful  man  and  dignified  commander.  How  often 
his  extravagant  spirits  used  to  carry  him  bej^ond  us 
all,  and  then  how  it  made  one's  heart  ache  to  see 
him  brooding  over  some  secret  grief!" 

"  1  saw  Jonker  von  Dornburg  in  Delft,"  said  Eector 
Grotius.  "  Such  enthusiastic  natures  often  soar  too 
high  and  come  to  grief,  but  when  they  bow  to  the 
yoke  of  duty  they  can  move  great  weights  and 
overcome  the  greatest  obstacles  with  cheerful 
ease." 

In  the  meantime  Adrian  had  risen  at  a  sign  from 
his  father,  and  filled  the  glasses  with  the  choicest 
wine.  The  "  hoch  "  which  the  burgomaster  raised 
was  to  the  prince's  health,  and  Janus  Dousa  followed 
it  witii  a  second  to  the  freedom  and  independence 
of  the  Fatherland. 


THE  B  UROOMA STEB  'S  WIFE.  34 1 

Yan  Hout  dedicated  a  glass  to  the  days  of  suffering 
and  to  the  wonderful  rescue  of  the  city. 

Every  one  pledged  him  heartily,  and  when  the 
"  hoch  '•  had  died  away  Aquanus  said  : 

"  Who  can  help  thinking  with  delight  of  that 
beautiful  Sunday,  the  third  of  October  ?  But  when  I 
think  of  all  tlie  misery  that  preceded  it,  my  heart 
aches  even  to  this  day," 

At  these  words  Peter  took  Maria's  hand,  and 
pressing  it  tenderly,  whispered  : 

"And  yet,  on  the  saddest  day  of  my  life,  I  found 
my  dearest  treasure," 

"  And  I  too,"  she  answered,  looking  gratefully 
Into  his  faithful  eyes. 


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